Kif18a inhibitors

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to chemical compounds having a general formula (I), as defined herein, and synthetic intermediates thereof, which are capable of modulating KIF18A protein thereby influencing the process of cell cycle and cell proliferation to treat cancer and cancer-related diseases. The invention also includes pharmaceutical compositions, including the compounds, and methods of treating disease states related to the activity of KIF18A.

The invention relates to the field of pharmaceutical agents and, more specifically, is directed to compounds and compositions useful for modulating KIF18A, and to uses and methods for managing cell proliferation and for treating cancer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cancer is one of the most widespread diseases afflicting mankind and a major cause of death worldwide. In an effort to find an effective treatment or a cure for one or more of the many different cancers, over the last couple of decades, numerous groups have invested a tremendous amount of time, effort and financial resources. However, to date, of the available cancer treatments and therapies, only a few offer any considerable degree of success.

Cancer is often characterized by unregulated cell proliferation. Damage to one or more genes, responsible for the cellular pathways, which control progress of proliferation through the cell cycle and centrosome cycle, can cause the loss of normal regulation of cell proliferation. These deregulated genes can code for various tumor suppressor or oncogene proteins, which participate in a cascade of events, leading to unchecked cell-cycling progression and cell proliferation. Various kinase and kinesin proteins have been identified, which play key roles in cell cycle and mitotic regulation and progression of normal dividing cells and cancer cells.

Kinesins are molecular motors that play important roles in cell division and intracellular vesicle and organelle transport. Mitotic kinesin play roles in several aspects of spindle assembly, chromosome segregation, centrosome separation and dynamics (reviewed in O. Rath and F. Kozielski, Nature Review Cancer, 12:527-39, 2012). Human kinesins are categorized into 14 subfamilies based on sequence homology within the so called “motor domain”, this domains ATPase activity drives unidirectional movement along microtubules (MTs). The non-motor domain of these proteins is responsible for cargo attachment; a “cargo” can include any one of a variety of different membranous organelles, signal transduction scaffolding systems, and chromosomes. Kinesins use the energy of ATP hydrolysis to move cargo along polarized microtubules. Thus, kinesins are often called “plus-end” or “minus-end” directed motors.

KIF18A gene belongs to Kinesin-8 subfamily and is a plus-end-directed motor. KIF18A is believed to influence dynamics at the plus end of kinetochore microtubules to control correct chromosome positioning and spindle tension. Depletion of human KIF18A leads to longer spindles, increased chromosome oscillation at metaphase, and activation of the mitotic spindle assembly checkpoint in HeLa cervical cancer cells (M I Mayr et al, Current Biology 17, 488-98, 2007). KIF18A appears to be viable target for the treatment of cancer. KIF18A is overexpressed in various types of cancers, including but not limited to colon, breast, lung, pancreas, prostate, bladder, head, neck, cervix, and ovarian cancers. Further, genetic deletion or knockdown, or inhibition of KIF18A effects mitotic spindle apparatus in cancer cell lines. Particularly, inhibition of KIF18A has been found to induce mitotic cell arrest, a known vulnerability that can promote cell death in mitosis via apoptosis, mitotic catastrophe, or multipolarity driven lethality or death after mitotic slippage in interphase. Accordingly, there has been a strong interest in finding inhibitors of KIF18A proteins.

Thus, the inhibition of KIF18A ATPase activity is a promising approach for the development of novel anti-cancer agents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a new class of compounds useful for modulating KIF18A protein alone or in a bound complex with microtubules for treating KIF18A-mediated conditions and/or diseases, including cancer, inflammation, or ciliopathologies.

The compounds provided by the invention have MT-based KIF18A modulatory activity and, in particular, KIF18A inhibitory activity. To this end, the invention also provides the use of these compounds, as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, in the preparation and manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition or medicament for therapeutic, prophylactic, acute or chronic treatment of KIF18A mediated diseases and disorders, including without limitation, cancer. Thus, the compounds of the invention are useful in the manufacture of anti-cancer medicaments. The invention also provides processes for making compounds of Formula I, as well as intermediates useful in such processes.

In embodiment 1, the present invention provides a compound of Formula (I), A compound of formula I:

or any pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, wherein:

X¹ is N or —CR;

X² is N or CR⁷;

X³ is N or CR⁸;

X⁴ is N or CR⁹;

wherein 1, 2, or 3 of X¹, X², X³ and X⁴ are N;

when all of X², X³ and X⁴ are not N; then L is —(C═O)—NR³—:

when any of X², X³ and X⁴ is N; then L is —(C═O)—NR³— or —NR³—(C═O)—;

R¹ is —CN, or a group —Z—R¹² wherein Z is —C₀₋₄alk-, —NR¹¹—, —NR¹¹SO₂—, —SO₂NR¹¹—, —NR¹¹—S(═O)(═NH), —S(═O)(═NH)—, —S—, —S(═O)—, —SO₂—, C₀₋₄alk-O—, —(C═O)—, —(C═O)NR¹¹—, —C═N(OH)—, or —NR¹¹(C═O); or

the group —Z—R¹² is —N═S(═O)—(R¹²)₂, wherein the two R¹² pair can alternatively combine with the sulfur atom attached to each of them to form a saturated or partially-saturated 3-, 4-, 5-, or 6-membered monocyclic ring containing 0, 1, 2 or 3 N atoms and 0, 1, or 2 atoms selected from O and S;

R² is a group —Y—R¹³, wherein Y is —C₀₋₄alk-, —N(C₀₋₁alk)-C₀₋₄alk-, —C(═O)NR^(a)R^(a)(C₁₋₄alk), —O—C₀₋₄alk-, S, S═O, S(═O)₂, —SO₂NR¹³, or —S(═O)(═NH)—; or

the group —Y—R¹³ is —N═S(═O)—(R¹³)₂, wherein the two R¹³ pair can alternatively combine with the sulfur atom attached to each of them to form a saturated or partially-saturated 3-, 4-, 5-, or 6-membered monocyclic ring containing 0, 1, 2 or 3 N atoms and 0, 1, or 2 atoms selected from O and S;

R³ is H, C₁₋₄alk, or C₁₋₄haloalk;

R⁴ is H, halo, R^(4a) or R^(4b);

R⁵ is H, halo, C₁₋₈alk, or C₁₋₄haloalk;

R⁶ is H, halo, C₁₋₈alk, C₁₋₄haloalk, —O—C₁₋₈alk, or —O—R^(6a); wherein R^(6a) is a saturated or partially-saturated 3-, 4-, 5-, or 6-membered monocyclic ring containing 0, 1, 2 or 3 N atoms and 0, 1, or 2 atoms selected from O and S;

R⁷ is H, halo, R^(7a) or R^(7b);

R⁸ is H, halo, C₁₋₈alk, C₁₋₄haloalk, —OH, —O—R^(8a), or —O—R^(8b);

R⁹ is H, halo, R^(9a) or R^(9b);

R^(x) is selected from the group consisting of

Each of R^(10a), R^(10b), R^(10c), R^(10d), R^(10e), R^(10f), R^(10g), R^(10h), R^(10i), and R^(10j) is H, halo, R^(10k), or R^(10l);

or alternatively, each of R^(10a) and R^(10b) pair, R^(10c) and R^(10d) pair, R^(10e) and R^(10f) pair, R^(10g) and R^(10h) pair, or R^(10i) and R^(10j) pair, independently, can combine with the carbon atom attached to each of them to form a saturated or partially-saturated 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-membered monocyclic ring Spiro to the R^(x) ring; wherein said 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-membered monocyclic ring contains 0, 1, 2 or 3 N atoms and 0, 1, or 2 atoms selected from O and S, and further wherein said 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-membered monocyclic ring is substituted by 0, 1, 2 or 3 group(s) selected from F, Cl, Br, C₁₋₆alk, C₁₋₄haloalk, —OR^(a), —OC₁₋₄haloalk, CN, —NR^(a)R^(a), or oxo;

R¹¹ is H or C₁₋₈alk;

R¹² is H, R^(12a), or R^(12b);

R¹³ is R^(13a) or R^(13b);

R^(4a), R^(7a), R^(8a), R^(9a), R^(10k), R^(12a), and R^(13a) is independently, at each instance, selected from the group consisting of a saturated, partially-saturated or unsaturated 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, or 7-membered monocyclic or 4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, 8-, 9-, 10-, 11-, or 12-membered bicyclic ring containing 0, 1, 2 or 3 N atoms and 0, 1, or 2 atoms selected from O and S, which is substituted by 0, 1, 2 or 3 group(s) selected from F, Cl, Br, C₁₋₆alk, C₁₋₄haloalk, —OR^(a), —OC₁₋₄haloalk, CN, —C(═O)R^(b), —C(═O)OR^(a), —C(═O)NR^(a)R^(a), —C(═NR^(a))NR^(a)R^(a), —OC(═O)R^(b), —OC(═O)NR^(a)R^(a), —OC₂₋₆alkNR^(a)R^(a), —OC₂₋₆alkOR^(a), —SR^(a), —S(═O)R^(b), —S(═O)₂R^(b), —S(═O)₂NR^(a)R^(a), —NR^(a)R^(a), —N(R^(a))C(═O)R^(b), —N(R^(a))C(═O)OR^(b), —N(R^(a))C(═O)NR^(a)R^(a), —N(R^(a))C(═NR^(a))NR^(a)R^(a), —N(R^(a))S(═O)₂R^(b), —N(R^(a))S(═O)₂NR^(a)R^(a), —NR^(a)C₂₋₆alkNR^(a)R^(a), —NR^(a)C₂₋₆alkOR^(a), —C₁₋₆alkNR^(a)R^(a), —C₁₋₆alkOR^(a), —C₁₋₆alkN(R^(a))C(═O)R^(b), —C₁₋₆alkOC(═O)R^(b), —C₁₋₆alkC(═O)NR^(a)R^(a), —C₁₋₆alkC(═O)OR^(a), R¹⁴, and oxo;

R^(4b), R^(7b), R^(8b), R^(9b), R^(10l), R^(12b), and R^(13b) is independently, at each instance, selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₆alk substituted by 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 group(s) selected from F, Cl, Br, —OR^(a), —OC₁₋₄haloalk, or CN;

R¹⁴ is independently, at each instance, selected from the group consisting of a saturated, partially-saturated or unsaturated 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, or 7-membered monocyclic or 4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, 8-, 9-, 10-, 11-, or 12-membered bicyclic ring containing 0, 1, 2 or 3 N atoms and 0 or 1 atoms selected from O and S, which is substituted by 0, 1, 2 or 3 group(s) selected from F, Cl, Br, C₁₋₆alk, C₁₋₄haloalk, —OR^(a), —OC₁₋₄haloalk, CN, —C(═O)R^(b), —C(═O)OR^(a), —C(═O)NR^(a)R^(a), —C(═NR^(a))NR^(a)R^(a), —OC(═O)R^(b), —OC(═O)NR^(a)R^(a), —OC₂₋₆alkNR^(a)R^(a), —OC₂₋₆alkOR^(a), —SR^(a), —S(═O)R^(b), —S(═O)₂R^(b), —S(═O)₂NR^(a)R^(a), —NR^(a)R^(a), —N(R^(a))C(═O)R^(b), —N(R^(a))C(═O)OR^(b), —N(R^(a))C(═O)NR^(a)R^(a), —N(R^(a))C(═NR^(a))NR^(a)R^(a), —N(R^(a))S(═O)₂R^(b), —N(R^(a))S(═O)₂NR^(a)R^(a), —NR^(a)C₂₋₆alkNR^(a)R^(a), —NR^(a)C₂₋₆alkOR^(a), —C₁₋₆alkNR^(a)R^(a), —C₁₋₆alkOR^(a), —C₁₋₆alkN(R^(a))C(═O)R^(b), —C₁₋₆alkOC(═O)R^(b), —C₁₋₆alkC(═O)NR^(a)R^(a), —C₁₋₆alkC(═O)OR^(a), and oxo;

R^(a) is independently, at each instance, H or R^(b); and

R^(b) is independently, at each instance, C₁₋₆alk, phenyl, or benzyl, wherein the C₁₋₆alk is being substituted by 0, 1, 2 or 3 substituents selected from halo, —OH, —OC₁₋₄alk, —NH₂, —NHC₁₋₄alk, —OC(═O)C₁₋₄alk, or —N(C₁₋₄alk)C₁₋₄alk; and the phenyl or benzyl is being substituted by 0, 1, 2 or 3 substituents selected from halo, C₁₋₄alk, C₁₋₃haloalk, —OH, —OC₁₋₄alk, —NH₂, —NHC₁₋₄alk, —OC(═O)C₁₋₄alk, or —N(C₁₋₄alk)C₁₋₄alk.

In embodiment 1a, the present invention provides compounds of formula (I) selected from:

In embodiment 2, the present invention provides compounds wherein L is —NR³—(C═O); and X¹ is N, X² is CR⁷, X³ is N; and X⁴ is CR⁹; having the formula (Ia):

In embodiment 3, the present invention provides compounds wherein L is —(C═O)—NR³—; and X¹ is CR⁶, X² is CR⁷, X³ is CR⁸; and X⁴ is CR⁹; having the formula (Ib):

In embodiment 4, the present invention provides compounds wherein L is —(C═O)—NR³—; and X¹ is N, X² is CR⁷, X³ is CR⁸; and X⁴ is CR⁹; having the formula (Ic):

In embodiment 5, the present invention provides compounds wherein L is —(C═O)—NR³—; and X¹ is N, X² is CR⁷, X³ is N; and X⁴ is CR⁹; having the formula (Id):

In embodiment 6, the present invention provides compounds wherein R³ is H or methyl.

In embodiment 7, the present invention provides compounds in accordance with any of the above embodiments, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein each of R^(10c), R^(10d), R^(10e), R^(10f), R^(10g), R^(10h)R^(10i), and R^(10j) is H, halo, C₁₋₆alk, or C₁₋₄haloalk; and each of R^(10a) and R^(10b) pair combine with the carbon atom attached to each of them form a saturated 3-, 4-, or 5-membered monocyclic ring spiro to the R^(x) ring; wherein said ring contains 0, 1, 2 or 3 N atoms and 0, 1, or 2 atoms selected from O and S.

In a sub-embodiment 7a, the R^(x) ring is piperidinyl.

In embodiment 8, the present invention provides compounds in accordance with any of the above embodiments, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein each of R^(10c), R^(10d), R^(10e), R^(10f), R^(10g), R^(10h), R^(10i), and R^(10j) is H, methyl, or ethyl; and each of R^(10a) and R^(10b) pair combine with the carbon atom attached to each of them form a cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, or cyclopentyl ring spiro to the R^(x) ring.

In a sub-embodiment 8a, the R^(x) ring is piperidinyl.

In embodiment 9, the present invention provides compounds in accordance with any of the above embodiments, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R^(x) is selected from:

In embodiment 10, the present invention provides compounds in accordance with any of the above embodiments, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R^(x) is

In embodiment 11, the present invention provides compounds in accordance with any of the above embodiments, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein Z is absent, —NH—, —NHSO₂—, —SO₂NH—, —S(═O)(═NH)—, —S—, —S(═O)—, —SO₂—, —(C═O)—, or —(C═O)NH—.

In embodiment 12, the present invention provides compounds in accordance with any of the above embodiments, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R¹² is selected from (a) H; (b) C₁₋₆alk substituted by 0, 1, 2 or 3 group(s) selected from F, Cl, Br, —OH, —OCH₃, or cyclopropyl; or (c) a saturated, partially-saturated or unsaturated 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, or 7-membered monocyclic ring containing 0, 1, 2 or 3 N atoms and 0 or 1 atoms selected from O and S, which is substituted by 0, 1, 2 or 3 group(s) selected from F, Cl, Br, C₁₋₆alk, C₁₋₄haloalk, —C₁₋₆alkOH, —OH, —OCH₃, —NH₂, or oxo.

In embodiment 13, the present invention provides compounds in accordance with any of the above embodiments, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R¹² is selected from cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, oxetanyl, azetidinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, or 1,3,4-oxathiazinanyl.

In embodiment 14, the present invention provides compounds in accordance with any of the above embodiments, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R¹ is —CN, or a group —Z—R¹², wherein Z is absent, —NH—, —NHSO₂—, —SO₂NH—, —N═S(═O)—(R¹¹)₂ (wherein the two R¹¹ pair can alternatively combine with the sulfur atom attached to each of them to form a saturated or partially-saturated 3-, 4-, 5-, or 6-membered monocyclic ring containing 0, 1, 2 or 3 N atoms and 0, 1, or 2 atoms selected from O and S), —S(═O)(═NH)—, —S—, —S(═O)—, —SO₂—, —(C═O)—, —(C═O)NH—, or —NH(C═O)—; and

R¹² is selected from:

(a) H;

(b) cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, oxiranyl, oxetanyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, azetidinyl, imidazolyl, morpholinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperazinyl,

wherein each said ring is substituted by 0, 1, 2 or 3 group(s) selected from wherein each ring is substituted by 0, 1, 2 or 3 OH, F, methyl, —CH₂OH, —C(═O)OCH₃, —C(═O)OC(CH₃)₃, NH₂, CN, and oxo; or (c) C₁₋₆alk substituted by 0, 1, 2 or 3 OH, F, —C(═O)OCH₃, —NH₂, —NH(CH₃), or —N(CH₃)₂.

In embodiment 15, the present invention provides compounds in accordance with any of the above embodiments, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R¹ is —CN, or a group —Z—R¹², wherein Z is absent, —NH—, —NHSO₂—, —SO₂NH—, —S(═O)(═NH)—, —S—, —S(═O)—, —SO₂—, —(C═O)—, or —(C═O)NH—; and R¹² is

(a) H;

(b) oxetanyl, cyclopropyl; or (c) C₁₋₆alk substituted by 0, 1, 2 or 3 OH group(s).

In embodiment 16, the present invention provides compounds in accordance with any of the above embodiments, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein the group —Z—R¹² is —N═S(═O)—(R¹²)₂, wherein the two R¹² pair can alternatively combine with the sulfur atom attached to each of them to form a saturated or partially-saturated 3-, 4-, 5-, or 6-membered monocyclic ring containing 0, 1, 2 or 3 N atoms and 0, 1, or 2 atoms selected from O and S; which is selected from:

In embodiment 17, the present invention provides compounds in accordance with any of the above embodiments, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R¹ is a group —Z—R¹², wherein Z is —NHSO₂— or —SO₂NH—; and R¹² is oxetanyl, cyclopropyl, or R¹² is C₁₋₆alk substituted by 0, 1, 2 or 3 OH group(s).

In embodiment 18, the present invention provides compounds in accordance with any of the above embodiments, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R¹ is a group —Z—R¹², wherein Z is —NHSO₂— and R¹² is —CH₂—CH₂—OH.

In embodiment 19, the present invention provides compounds in accordance with any of the above embodiments, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R² is a group —Y—R¹³, wherein Y is absent, —NH—, —NH—(CH₂)₀₋₄—, or —O—(CH₂)₀₋₄; and R¹³ is a saturated, partially-saturated or unsaturated 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, or 7-membered monocyclic or 4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, 8-, 9-, 10-, 11-, or 12-membered bicyclic ring containing 0, 1, 2 or 3 N atoms and 0 or 1 atoms selected from O and S, which is substituted by 0, 1, 2 or 3 group(s) selected from F, Cl, Br, C₁₋₆alk, C₁₋₄haloalk, —OH, —OC₁₋₄haloalk, CN, R¹⁴, and oxo; or;

R¹³ is C₁₋₆alk substituted by 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 group(s) selected from F, Cl, Br, —OH, —OC₁₋₄haloalk, or CN.

In embodiment 20, the present invention provides compounds in accordance with any of the above embodiments, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R² is a saturated 5- or 6-membered monocyclic ring wherein each said ring contains 0, 1, or 2 N atoms and 0 or 1 O atom, and wherein each said ring is substituted by 0, 1, 2 or 3 group(s) selected from F, Cl, Br, C₁₋₆alk, C₁₋₄haloalk, —OH, —OC₁₋₄haloalk, CN, R¹⁴, and oxo.

In embodiment 21, the present invention provides compounds in accordance with any of the above embodiments, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R² is

(a) a group —Y—R¹³, wherein Y is absent; and R¹³ is morpholinyl, piperidinyl, azetidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, piperazinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl,

wherein each said ring is substituted by 0, 1, 2 or 3 group(s) selected from F, Cl, Br, methyl, CF₃, —OH, —OCHF₂, CN, and oxo; or

(b) a group —Y—R¹³, wherein Y is NH, —O—, —O—(CH₂)—, —O—(CH₂)—(CH₂)—, or —O—(CH₂)—(CH₂)—(CH₂)—, and wherein R¹³ is

or R¹³ is C₁₋₆alk substituted by 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 group(s) selected from F, Cl, Br, methyl, CF₃, —OH, or CN.

In embodiment 22, the present invention provides compounds in accordance with any of the above embodiments, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R² is morpholinyl or piperidinyl substituted by 0, 1, 2 or 3 group(s) selected from F, Cl, Br, methyl, CF₃, —OH, —OCHF₂, CN, or oxo.

In embodiment 23, the present invention provides compounds in accordance with any of the above embodiments, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R² is morpholinyl substituted by 1, 2 or 3 methyl group(s).

In embodiment 24, the present invention provides compounds in accordance with any of the above embodiments, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R² is piperidinyl substituted by 1, 2 or 3 fluoro group(s).

In embodiment 25, the present invention provides compounds in accordance with any of the above embodiments, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R² is

In embodiment 26, the present invention provides compounds in accordance with any of the above embodiments, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R⁴ is methyl.

In embodiment 27, the present invention provides compounds in accordance with any of the above embodiments, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R⁵ is H.

In embodiment 28, the present invention provides compounds in accordance with any of the above embodiments, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R⁶ is H or F.

In embodiment 29, the present invention provides compounds in accordance with any of the above embodiments, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R⁷ is H or F.

In embodiment 30, the present invention provides compounds in accordance with any of the above embodiments, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R⁸ is H.

In embodiment 31, the present invention provides compounds in accordance with any of the above embodiments, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R⁹ is H.

In embodiment 32, the present invention provides a compound, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, selected from:

Ex. # Chemical Structure Name 1

N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6- methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-6-((2- hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-2-(6- azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide 1-1

(R)-6-((2- Hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-N-(6- methyl-2-(2- methylmorpholino)pyrimidin-4-yl)-2-(6- azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide 2-1

(R)-N-(6-methyl-2-(2- methylmorpholino)pyrimidin-4-yl)-6- ((3-methyloxetan-3-yl)amino)-2-(6- azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide 2-4

N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1- yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-6-((3- (hydroxymethyl)oxetan-3-yl)amino)-2- (6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide 2-6

N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1- yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-5-((1- hydroxy-2-methylpropan-2-yl)amino)-3- (6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)picolinamide 3

6-(Cyclopropylsulfonyl)-N-(2- (4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6- methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-4-(6- azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide 4-1

4-(6-Azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)-6- (S-cyclopropylsulfonimidoyl)-N-(2-(4,4- difluoro-1-piperidinyl)-6-methyl-4- pyrimidinyl)-3-pyridinecarboxamide 4-2

4-(6-Azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)-6- (R-cyclopropylsulfonimidoyl)-N-(2-(4,4- difluoro-1-piperidinyl)-6-methyl-4- pyrimidinyl)-3-pyridinecarboxamide 5-1

3-(6-Azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)-5-(R- cyclopropylsulfonimidoyl)-N-(2-(4,4- difluoro-1-piperidinyl)-6-methyl-4- pyrimidinyl)-2-pyridinecarboxamide 5-2

3-(6-Azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)-5-(S- cyclopropylsulfonimidoyl)-N-(2-(4,4- difluoro-1-piperidinyl)-6-methyl-4- pyrimidinyl)-2-pyridinecarboxamide 6

N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6- methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-5-((2- hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-3-(6- azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)picolinamide 7

N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6- methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-6-((2- hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-4-(6- azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide 7-1

N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6- methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-2-((2- hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-4-(6- azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)pyrimidine-5- carboxamide 8

5-(Cyclopropylsulfonyl)-N-(2-(4,4- difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6- methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-3-(6- azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)picolinamide 9

N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6- methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-2-((2- hydroxyethyl)amino)-5-(6- azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)isonicotinamide 10 

N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6- methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-5-((2- hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-3-(6- azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)pyrazine-2- carboxamide 11 

2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-N-(4-((2- hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-2-(6- azaspiro[2.5]octan-6- yl)phenyl)isonicotinamide or any pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof.

In embodiment 33, the present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, in accordance with any one of embodiments 1-32, and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent or carrier.

In embodiment 34, the present invention provides a method of treating a condition that may be treated with KIF18a inhibitors, the method comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of the compound in accordance with embodiments 1-32, or the composition according to embodiment 33.

In embodiment 35, the present invention provides the method of embodiment 34, wherein said condition is cancer selected from the group consisting of (a) a solid or hematologically derived tumor selected from cancer of the cancer of the bladder, endometrial, lung squamous cell, breast, colon, kidney, liver, lung, small cell lung cancer, esophagus, gall-bladder, brain, head and neck, ovary, pancreas, stomach, cervix, thyroid, prostate and skin, (b) a hematopoietic tumor of lymphoid lineage selected from leukemia, acute lymphocitic leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, B-cell lymphoma, T-cell-lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, hairy cell lymphoma and Burkett's lymphoma, (c) a hematopoietic tumor of myeloid lineage selected from acute and chronic myelogenous leukemias, myelodysplastic syndrome and promyelocytic leukemia (d) a tumor of mesenchymal origin selected from fibrosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma, (e) a tumor of the central and peripheral nervous system selected from astrocytoma, neuroblastoma, glioma and schwannoma, or (f) a melanoma, seminoma, teratocarcinoma, osteosarcoma, xenoderoma pigmentosum, keratoctanthoma, thyroid follicular cancer or Kaposi's sarcoma.

In a sub-embodiment 35a, the present invention provides the method of embodiment 34, wherein said condition is cancer selected from the group consisting of melanoma, prostate cancer, cervical cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, sarcoma, or leukemia. See: Zhang C. et. al., “Kif18A is involved in human breast carcinogenesis”, Carcinogenesis, 2010 September; 31(9):1676-84. doi: 10.1093/carcin/bgq134. Epub 2010 Jul. 1. See also: (1) https://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000121621-KIF18A/pathology; (2) Nagahara, M. et. al., “Kinesin 18A expression: clinical relevance to colorectal cancer progression”, Int. J. Cancer: 129, 2543-2552 (2011) VC 2011 UIC; and (3) Yu, Y. et. al., “The Role of Kinesin Family Proteins in Tumorigenesis and Progression—Potential Biomarkers and Molecular Targets for Cancer Therapy”, Cancer 2010; 116:5150-60. VC 2010 American Cancer Society.

In embodiment 36, the present invention provides a method of reducing the size of a solid tumor in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of the compound in accordance with embodiments 1-32, or the composition according to embodiment 33.

In embodiment 37, the present invention provides a method of treating a cell proliferation disorder in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of the compound in accordance with embodiments 1-32, or the composition according to embodiment 33.

In embodiment 38, the present invention provides a method of inhibiting KIF18A in a cell, comprising contacting the cell with a compound, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, in accordance with embodiments 1-32, or the composition according to embodiment 33.

In embodiment 39, the invention provides a method of preparing a compound of Formula (I) as described herein.

In embodiment 40, the invention provides an intermediate compound used in the method of preparing a compound of Formula (I) as described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes all pharmaceutically acceptable isotopically-labelled compounds of the present invention wherein one or more atoms are replaced by atoms having the same atomic number, but an atomic mass or mass number different from the atomic mass or mass number which predominates in nature.

Examples of isotopes suitable for inclusion in the compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, isotopes of hydrogen, such as ²H and ³H, carbon, such as ¹¹C, ¹³C and ¹⁴C, chlorine, such as ³⁸Cl, fluorine, such as ¹⁸F, iodine, such as ¹²³I and ¹²⁵I, nitrogen, such as ¹³N and ¹⁵N, oxygen, such as ¹⁵O, ¹⁷O and ¹⁸O, phosphorus, such as ³²P, and sulphur, such as ³⁵S.

Certain isotopically-labelled compounds of the present invention, for example, those incorporating a radioactive isotope, are useful in drug and/or substrate tissue distribution studies. The radioactive isotopes tritium, i.e. ³H, and carbon-14, i.e. ⁴C, are particularly useful for this purpose in view of their ease of incorporation and ready means of detection.

Substitution with heavier isotopes such as deuterium, i.e. ²H, may afford certain therapeutic advantages resulting from greater metabolic stability, for example, increased in vivo half-life or reduced dosage requirements, and hence may be preferred in some circumstances.

Substitution with positron emitting isotopes, such as ¹¹C, ¹⁸F, ¹⁵O and ¹³N, can be useful in Positron Emission Topography (PET) studies for examining substrate receptor occupancy.

Isotopically-labeled compounds of the present invention can generally be prepared by conventional techniques known to those skilled in the art or by processes analogous to those described in the accompanying Examples and Preparations using an appropriate isotopically-labeled reagent in place of the non-labeled reagent previously employed.

Pharmaceutically acceptable solvates in accordance with the invention include those wherein the solvent of crystallization may be isotopically substituted, e.g. D₂O, d₆-acetone, d₆-DMSO.

Specific embodiments of the present invention include the compounds exemplified in the Examples below and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, complexes, solvates, polymorphs, stereoisomers, metabolites, prodrugs, and other derivatives thereof.

Unless otherwise specified, the following definitions apply to terms found in the specification and claims:

“C_(α-β)alk” means an alkyl group comprising a minimum of α and a maximum of β carbon atoms in a branched or linear relationship or any combination of the three, wherein α and β represent integers. The alkyl groups described in this section may also contain one or two double or triple bonds. A designation of C₀alk indicates a direct bond. Examples of C₁₋₆alkyl include, but are not limited to the following:

“Benzo group”, alone or in combination, means the divalent radical C₄H₄═, one representation of which is —CH═CH—CH═CH—, that when vicinally attached to another ring forms a benzene-like ring—for example tetrahydronaphthalene, indole and the like.

The terms “oxo” and “thioxo” represent the groups ═O (as in carbonyl) and ═S (as in thiocarbonyl), respectively.

“Halo” or “halogen” means a halogen atom selected from F, Cl, Br and I.

“C_(α-β)haloalk” means an alk group, as described above, wherein any number—at least one—of the hydrogen atoms attached to the alk chain are replaced by F, Cl, Br or I.

The group N(R^(a))R^(a) and the like include substituents where the two R^(a) groups together form a ring, optionally including a N, O or S atom, and include groups such as:

The group N(C_(α-β)alk) C_(α-β)alk, wherein α and β are as defined above, include substituents where the two C_(α-β)alk groups together form a ring, optionally including a N, O or S atom, and include groups such as:

“Bicyclic ring” means a group that features two joined rings. A bicyclic ring can be carbocyclic (all of the ring atoms are carbons), or heterocyclic (the rings atoms consist, for example, 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms, such as N, O, or S, in addition to carbon atoms). The two rings can both be aliphatic (e.g. decalin and norbornane), or can be aromatic (e.g. napththalene), or a combination of aliphatic and aromatic (e.g. tetralin). Bicyclic rings include (a) spirocyclic compounds, wherein the two rings share only one single atom, the spiro atom, which is usually a quaternary carbon. Examples of spirocyclic compound include, but are not limited to:

(b) fused bicyclic compounds, wherein two rings share two adjacent atoms. In other words, the rings share one covalent bond, i.e. the bridgehead atoms are directly connected (e.g. α-thujene and decalin). Examples of fused bicyclic rings include, but are not limited to:

and (c) bridged bicyclic compounds wherein the two rings share three or more atoms, separating the two bridgehead atoms by a bridge containing at least one atom. For example, norbornane, also known as bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, can be thought of as a pair of cyclopentane rings each sharing three of their five carbon atoms. Examples of bridged bicyclic rings include, but are not limited to:

“Carbocycle” or “Carbocyclic” means a ring comprising by itself or in combination with other terms, represents, unless otherwise stated, cyclic version of “C_(α-β)alk”. Examples of carbocycle include cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, 1-cyclohexenyl, 3-cyclohexenyl, cycloheptyl, cyclobutylene, cyclohexylene and the like.

“Heterocycle” or “Heterocyclic” means a ring comprising at least one carbon atom and at least one other atom selected from N, O and S. Examples of heterocycles that may be found in the claims include, but are not limited to, the following:

“Pharmaceutically-acceptable salt” means a salt prepared by conventional means, and are well known by those skilled in the art. The “pharmacologically acceptable salts” include basic salts of inorganic and organic acids, including but not limited to hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, malic acid, acetic acid, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, lactic acid, fumaric acid, succinic acid, maleic acid, salicylic acid, benzoic acid, phenylacetic acid, mandelic acid and the like. When compounds of the invention include an acidic function such as a carboxy group, then suitable pharmaceutically acceptable cation pairs for the carboxy group are well known to those skilled in the art and include alkaline, alkaline earth, ammonium, quaternary ammonium cations and the like. For additional examples of “pharmacologically acceptable salts,” see infra and Berge et al., J. Pharm. Sci. 66:1 (1977).

“Saturated, partially-saturated or unsaturated” includes substituents saturated with hydrogens, substituents completely unsaturated with hydrogens and substituents partially saturated with hydrogens.

“Leaving group” generally refers to groups readily displaceable by a nucleophile, such as an amine, a thiol or an alcohol nucleophile. Such leaving groups are well known in the art. Examples of such leaving groups include, but are not limited to, N-hydroxysuccinimide, N-hydroxybenzotriazole, halides, triflates, tosylates and the like. Preferred leaving groups are indicated herein where appropriate.

“Protecting group” generally refers to groups well known in the art which are used to prevent selected reactive groups, such as carboxy, amino, hydroxy, mercapto and the like, from undergoing undesired reactions, such as nucleophilic, electrophilic, oxidation, reduction and the like. Preferred protecting groups are indicated herein where appropriate. Examples of amino protecting groups include, but are not limited to, aralkyl, substituted aralkyl, cycloalkenylalkyl and substituted cycloalkenyl alkyl, allyl, substituted allyl, acyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aralkoxycarbonyl, silyl and the like. Examples of aralkyl include, but are not limited to, benzyl, ortho-methylbenzyl, trityl and benzhydryl, which can be optionally substituted with halogen, alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxy, nitro, acylamino, acyl and the like, and salts, such as phosphonium and ammonium salts. Examples of aryl groups include phenyl, naphthyl, indanyl, anthracenyl, 9-(9-phenylfluorenyl), phenanthrenyl, durenyl and the like. Examples of cycloalkenylalkyl or substituted cycloalkylenylalkyl radicals, preferably have 6-10 carbon atoms, include, but are not limited to, cyclohexenyl methyl and the like. Suitable acyl, alkoxycarbonyl and aralkoxycarbonyl groups include benzyloxycarbonyl, t-butoxycarbonyl, iso-butoxycarbonyl, benzoyl, substituted benzoyl, butyryl, acetyl, trifluoroacetyl, trichloro acetyl, phthaloyl and the like. A mixture of protecting groups can be used to protect the same amino group, such as a primary amino group can be protected by both an aralkyl group and an aralkoxycarbonyl group. Amino protecting groups can also form a heterocyclic ring with the nitrogen to which they are attached, for example, 1,2-bis(methylene)benzene, phthalimidyl, succinimidyl, maleimidyl and the like and where these heterocyclic groups can further include adjoining aryl and cycloalkyl rings. In addition, the heterocyclic groups can be mono-, di- or tri-substituted, such as nitrophthalimidyl. Amino groups may also be protected against undesired reactions, such as oxidation, through the formation of an addition salt, such as hydrochloride, toluenesulfonic acid, trifluoroacetic acid and the like. Many of the amino protecting groups are also suitable for protecting carboxy, hydroxy and mercapto groups. For example, aralkyl groups. Alkyl groups are also suitable groups for protecting hydroxy and mercapto groups, such as tert-butyl.

Silyl protecting groups are silicon atoms optionally substituted by one or more alkyl, aryl and aralkyl groups. Suitable silyl protecting groups include, but are not limited to, trimethylsilyl, triethylsilyl, triisopropylsilyl, tert-butyldimethylsilyl, dimethylphenylsilyl, 1,2-bis(dimethylsilyl)benzene, 1,2-bis(dimethylsilyl)ethane and diphenylmethylsilyl. Silylation of an amino groups provide mono- or di-silylamino groups. Silylation of aminoalcohol compounds can lead to a N,N,O-trisilyl derivative. Removal of the silyl function from a silyl ether function is readily accomplished by treatment with, for example, a metal hydroxide or ammonium fluoride reagent, either as a discrete reaction step or in situ during a reaction with the alcohol group. Suitable silylating agents are, for example, trimethylsilyl chloride, tert-butyl-dimethylsilyl chloride, phenyldimethylsilyl chloride, diphenylmethyl silyl chloride or their combination products with imidazole or DMF. Methods for silylation of amines and removal of silyl protecting groups are well known to those skilled in the art. Methods of preparation of these amine derivatives from corresponding amino acids, amino acid amides or amino acid esters are also well known to those skilled in the art of organic chemistry including amino acid/amino acid ester or aminoalcohol chemistry.

Protecting groups are removed under conditions which will not affect the remaining portion of the molecule. These methods are well known in the art and include acid hydrolysis, hydrogenolysis and the like. A preferred method involves removal of a protecting group, such as removal of a benzyloxycarbonyl group by hydrogenolysis utilizing palladium on carbon in a suitable solvent system such as an alcohol, acetic acid, and the like or mixtures thereof. A t-butoxycarbonyl protecting group can be removed utilizing an inorganic or organic acid, such as HCl or trifluoroacetic acid, in a suitable solvent system, such as dioxane or methylene chloride. The resulting amino salt can readily be neutralized to yield the free amine. Carboxy protecting group, such as methyl, ethyl, benzyl, tert-butyl, 4-methoxyphenylmethyl and the like, can be removed under hydrolysis and hydrogenolysis conditions well known to those skilled in the art.

It should be noted that compounds of the invention may contain groups that may exist in tautomeric forms, such as cyclic and acyclic amidine and guanidine groups, heteroatom substituted heteroaryl groups (Y′=O, S, NR), and the like, which are illustrated in the following examples:

and though one form is named, described, displayed and/or claimed herein, all the tautomeric forms are intended to be inherently included in such name, description, display and/or claim.

Prodrugs of the compounds of this invention are also contemplated by this invention. A prodrug is an active or inactive compound that is modified chemically through in vivo physiological action, such as hydrolysis, metabolism and the like, into a compound of this invention following administration of the prodrug to a patient. The suitability and techniques involved in making and using prodrugs are well known by those skilled in the art. For a general discussion of prodrugs involving esters see Svensson and Tunek Drug Metabolism Reviews 165 (1988) and Bundgaard Design of Prodrugs, Elsevier (1985). Examples of a masked carboxylate anion include a variety of esters, such as alkyl (for example, methyl, ethyl), cycloalkyl (for example, cyclohexyl), aralkyl (for example, benzyl, p-methoxybenzyl), and alkylcarbonyloxyalkyl (for example, pivaloyloxymethyl). Amines have been masked as arylcarbonyloxymethyl substituted derivatives which are cleaved by esterases in vivo releasing the free drug and formaldehyde (Bungaard J. Med. Chem. 2503 (1989)). Also, drugs containing an acidic NH group, such as imidazole, imide, indole and the like, have been masked with N-acyloxymethyl groups (Bundgaard Design of Prodrugs, Elsevier (1985)). Hydroxy groups have been masked as esters and ethers. EP 039,051 (Sloan and Little, Apr. 11, 1981) discloses Mannich-base hydroxamic acid prodrugs, their preparation and use.

The specification and claims contain listing of species using the language “selected from . . . and . . . ” and “is . . . or . . . ” (sometimes referred to as Markush groups). When this language is used in this application, unless otherwise stated it is meant to include the group as a whole, or any single members thereof, or any subgroups thereof. The use of this language is merely for shorthand purposes and is not meant in any way to limit the removal of individual elements or subgroups as needed.

Pharmaceutical Compositions, Dosing, and Routes of Administration

Also provided herein are pharmaceutical compositions that includes a compound as disclosed herein, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, such as, for example, a diluent or carrier. Compounds and pharmaceutical compositions suitable for use in the present invention include those wherein the compound can be administered in an effective amount to achieve its intended purpose. Administration of the compound described in more detail below.

Suitable pharmaceutical formulations can be determined by the skilled artisan depending on the route of administration and the desired dosage. See, e.g., Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 1435-712 (18th ed., Mack Publishing Co, Easton, Pa., 1990). Formulations may influence the physical state, stability, rate of in vivo release and rate of in vivo clearance of the administered agents. Depending on the route of administration, a suitable dose may be calculated according to body weight, body surface areas or organ size. Further refinement of the calculations necessary to determine the appropriate treatment dose is routinely made by those of ordinary skill in the art without undue experimentation, especially in light of the dosage information and assays disclosed herein as well as the pharmacokinetic data obtainable through animal or human clinical trials.

The phrases “pharmaceutically acceptable” or “pharmacologically acceptable” refer to molecular entities and compositions that do not produce adverse, allergic, or other untoward reactions when administered to an animal or a human. As used herein, “pharmaceutically acceptable e” includes any and all solvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial and antifungal agents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents and the like. The use of such excipients for pharmaceutically active substances is well known in the art. Except insofar as any conventional media or agent is incompatible with the therapeutic compositions, its use in therapeutic compositions is contemplated. Supplementary active ingredients also can be incorporated into the compositions. In exemplary embodiments, the formulation may comprise corn syrup solids, high-oleic safflower oil, coconut oil, soy oil, L-leucine, calcium phosphate tribasic, L-tyrosine, L-proline, L-lysine acetate, DATEM (an emulsifier), L-glutamine, L-valine, potassium phosphate dibasic, L-isoleucine, L-arginine, L-alanine, glycine, L-asparagine monohydrate, L-serine, potassium citrate, L-threonine, sodium citrate, magnesium chloride, L-histidine, L-methionine, ascorbic acid, calcium carbonate, L-glutamic acid, L-cystine dihydrochloride, L-tryptophan, L-aspartic acid, choline chloride, taurine, m-inositol, ferrous sulfate, ascorbyl palmitate, zinc sulfate, L-carnitine, alpha-tocopheryl acetate, sodium chloride, niacinamide, mixed tocopherols, calcium pantothenate, cupric sulfate, thiamine chloride hydrochloride, vitamin A palmitate, manganese sulfate, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, beta-carotene, potassium iodide, phylloquinone, biotin, sodium selenate, chromium chloride, sodium molybdate, vitamin D3 and cyanocobalamin.

The compound can be present in a pharmaceutical composition as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt. As used herein, “pharmaceutically acceptable salts” include, for example base addition salts and acid addition salts.

Pharmaceutically acceptable base addition salts may be formed with metals or amines, such as alkali and alkaline earth metals or organic amines. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts of compounds may also be prepared with a pharmaceutically acceptable cation. Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable cations are well known to those skilled in the art and include alkaline, alkaline earth, ammonium and quaternary ammonium cations. Carbonates or hydrogen carbonates are also possible. Examples of metals used as cations are sodium, potassium, magnesium, ammonium, calcium, or ferric, and the like. Examples of suitable amines include isopropylamine, trimethylamine, histidine, N,N′-dibenzylethylenediamine, chloroprocaine, choline, diethanolamine, dicyclohexylamine, ethylenediamine, N-methylglucamine, and procaine.

Pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts include inorganic or organic acid salts. Examples of suitable acid salts include the hydrochlorides, formates, acetates, citrates, salicylates, nitrates, phosphates. Other suitable pharmaceutically acceptable salts are well known to those skilled in the art and include, for example, formic, acetic, citric, oxalic, tartaric, or mandelic acids, hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid; with organic carboxylic, sulfonic, sulfo or phospho acids or N-substituted sulfamic acids, for example acetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), propionic acid, glycolic acid, succinic acid, maleic acid, hydroxymaleic acid, methylmaleic acid, fumaric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, oxalic acid, gluconic acid, glucaric acid, glucuronic acid, citric acid, benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, mandelic acid, salicylic acid, 4-aminosalicylic acid, 2-phenoxybenzoic acid, 2-acetoxybenzoic acid, embonic acid, nicotinic acid or isonicotinic acid; and with amino acids, such as the 20 alpha amino acids involved in the synthesis of proteins in nature, for example glutamic acid or aspartic acid, and also with phenylacetic acid, methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, 2-hydroxyethanesulfonic acid, ethane 1,2-disulfonic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, 4-methylbenzenesulfonic acid, naphthalene 2-sulfonic acid, naphthalene 1,5-disulfonic acid, 2- or 3-phosphoglycerate, glucose 6-phosphate, N-cyclohexylsulfamic acid (with the formation of cyclamates), or with other acid organic compounds, such as ascorbic acid.

Pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds disclosed herein can be manufactured in a conventional manner, e.g., by conventional mixing, dissolving, granulating, dragee-making, levigating, emulsifying, encapsulating, entrapping, or lyophilizing processes. Proper formulation is dependent upon the route of administration chosen.

For oral administration, suitable compositions can be formulated readily by combining a compound disclosed herein with pharmaceutically acceptable excipients such as carriers well known in the art. Such excipients and carriers enable the present compounds to be formulated as tablets, pills, dragees, capsules, liquids, gels, syrups, slurries, suspensions and the like, for oral ingestion by a patient to be treated. Pharmaceutical preparations for oral use can be obtained by adding a compound as disclosed herein with a solid excipient, optionally grinding a resulting mixture, and processing the mixture of granules, after adding suitable auxiliaries, if desired, to obtain tablets or dragee cores. Suitable excipients include, for example, fillers and cellulose preparations. If desired, disintegrating agents can be added. Pharmaceutically acceptable ingredients are well known for the various types of formulation and may be for example binders (e.g., natural or synthetic polymers), lubricants, surfactants, sweetening and flavoring agents, coating materials, preservatives, dyes, thickeners, adjuvants, antimicrobial agents, antioxidants and carriers for the various formulation types.

When a therapeutically effective amount of a compound disclosed herein is administered orally, the composition typically is in the form of a solid (e.g., tablet, capsule, pill, powder, or troche) or a liquid formulation (e.g., aqueous suspension, solution, elixir, or syrup).

When administered in tablet form, the composition can additionally contain a functional solid and/or solid carrier, such as a gelatin or an adjuvant. The tablet, capsule, and powder can contain about 1 to about 95% compound, and preferably from about 15 to about 90% compound.

When administered in liquid or suspension form, a functional liquid and/or a liquid carrier such as water, petroleum, or oils of animal or plant origin can be added. The liquid form of the composition can further contain physiological saline solution, sugar alcohol solutions, dextrose or other saccharide solutions, or glycols. When administered in liquid or suspension form, the composition can contain about 0.5 to about 90% by weight of a compound disclosed herein, and preferably about 1 to about 50% of a compound disclosed herein. In one embodiment contemplated, the liquid carrier is non-aqueous or substantially non-aqueous. For administration in liquid form, the composition may be supplied as a rapidly-dissolving solid formulation for dissolution or suspension immediately prior to administration.

When a therapeutically effective amount of a compound disclosed herein is administered by intravenous, cutaneous, or subcutaneous injection, the composition is in the form of a pyrogen-free, parenterally acceptable aqueous solution. The preparation of such parenterally acceptable solutions, having due regard to pH, isotonicity, stability, and the like, is within the skill in the art. A preferred composition for intravenous, cutaneous, or subcutaneous injection typically contains, in addition to a compound disclosed herein, an isotonic vehicle. Such compositions may be prepared for administration as solutions of free base or pharmacologically acceptable salts in water suitably mixed with a surfactant, such as hydroxypropylcellulose. Dispersions also can be prepared in glycerol, liquid polyethylene glycols, and mixtures thereof and in oils. Under ordinary conditions of storage and use, these preparations can optionally contain a preservative to prevent the growth of microorganisms.

Injectable compositions can include sterile aqueous solutions, suspensions, or dispersions and sterile powders for the extemporaneous preparation of sterile injectable solutions, suspensions, or dispersions. In all embodiments the form must be sterile and must be fluid to the extent that easy syringability exists. It must be stable under the conditions of manufacture and storage and must resist the contaminating action of microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, by optional inclusion of a preservative. The carrier can be a solvent or dispersion medium containing, for example, water, ethanol, polyol (e.g., glycerol, propylene glycol, and liquid polyethylene glycol, and the like), suitable mixtures thereof, and vegetable oils. In one embodiment contemplated, the carrier is non-aqueous or substantially non-aqueous. The proper fluidity can be maintained, for example, by the use of a coating, such as lecithin, by the maintenance of the required particle size of the compound in the embodiment of dispersion and by the use of surfactants. The prevention of the action of microorganisms can be brought about by various antibacterial and antifungal agents, for example, parabens, chlorobutanol, phenol, sorbic acid, thimerosal, and the like. In many embodiments, it will be preferable to include isotonic agents, for example, sugars or sodium chloride. Prolonged absorption of the injectable compositions can be brought about by the use in the compositions of agents delaying absorption, for example, aluminum monostearate and gelatin.

Sterile injectable solutions are prepared by incorporating the active compounds in the required amount in the appropriate solvent with various of the other ingredients enumerated above, as required, followed by filtered sterilization. Generally, dispersions are prepared by incorporating the various sterilized active ingredients into a sterile vehicle which contains the basic dispersion medium and the required other ingredients from those enumerated above. In the embodiment of sterile powders for the preparation of sterile injectable solutions, the preferred methods of preparation are vacuum-drying and freeze-drying techniques which yield a powder of the active ingredient plus any additional desired ingredient from a previously sterile-filtered solution thereof.

Slow release or sustained release formulations may also be prepared in order to achieve a controlled release of the active compound in contact with the body fluids in the GI tract, and to provide a substantially constant and effective level of the active compound in the blood plasma. For example, release can be controlled by one or more of dissolution, diffusion, and ion-exchange. In addition, the slow release approach may enhance absorption via saturable or limiting pathways within the GI tract. For example, the compound may be embedded for this purpose in a polymer matrix of a biological degradable polymer, a water-soluble polymer or a mixture of both, and optionally suitable surfactants. Embedding can mean in this context the incorporation of micro-particles in a matrix of polymers. Controlled release formulations are also obtained through encapsulation of dispersed micro-particles or emulsified micro-droplets via known dispersion or emulsion coating technologies.

For administration by inhalation, compounds of the present invention are conveniently delivered in the form of an aerosol spray presentation from pressurized packs or a nebulizer, with the use of a suitable propellant. In the embodiment of a pressurized aerosol, the dosage unit can be determined by providing a valve to deliver a metered amount. Capsules and cartridges of, e.g., gelatin, for use in an inhaler or insufflator can be formulated containing a powder mix of the compound and a suitable powder base such as lactose or starch.

The compounds disclosed herein can be formulated for parenteral administration by injection (e.g., by bolus injection or continuous infusion). Formulations for injection can be presented in unit dosage form (e.g., in ampules or in multidose containers), with an added preservative. The compositions can take such forms as suspensions, solutions, or emulsions in oily or aqueous vehicles, and can contain formulatory agents such as suspending, stabilizing, and/or dispersing agents.

Pharmaceutical formulations for parenteral administration include aqueous solutions of the compounds in water-soluble form. Additionally, suspensions of the compounds can be prepared as appropriate oily injection suspensions. Suitable lipophilic solvents or vehicles include fatty oils or synthetic fatty acid esters. Aqueous injection suspensions can contain substances which increase the viscosity of the suspension. Optionally, the suspension also can contain suitable stabilizers or agents that increase the solubility of the compounds and allow for the preparation of highly concentrated solutions. Alternatively, a present composition can be in powder form for constitution with a suitable vehicle (e.g., sterile pyrogen-free water) before use.

Compounds disclosed herein also can be formulated in rectal compositions, such as suppositories or retention enemas (e.g., containing conventional suppository bases). In addition to the formulations described previously, the compounds also can be formulated as a depot preparation. Such long-acting formulations can be administered by implantation (e.g., subcutaneously or intramuscularly) or by intramuscular injection. Thus, for example, the compounds can be formulated with suitable polymeric or hydrophobic materials (for example, as an emulsion in an acceptable oil) or ion exchange resins, or as sparingly soluble derivatives, for example, as a sparingly soluble salt.

In particular, a compound disclosed herein can be administered orally, buccally, or sublingually in the form of tablets containing excipients, such as starch or lactose, or in capsules or ovules, either alone or in admixture with excipients, or in the form of elixirs or suspensions containing flavoring or coloring agents. Such liquid preparations can be prepared with pharmaceutically acceptable additives, such as suspending agents. A compound also can be injected parenterally, for example, intravenously, intramuscularly, subcutaneously, or intracoronarily. For parenteral administration, the compound is best used in the form of a sterile aqueous solution which can contain other substances, for example, salts, or sugar alcohols, such as mannitol, or glucose, to make the solution isotonic with blood.

For veterinary use, a compound disclosed herein is administered as a suitably acceptable formulation in accordance with normal veterinary practice. The veterinarian can readily determine the dosing regimen and route of administration that is most appropriate for a particular animal.

In some embodiments, all the necessary components for the treatment of KIF18A-related disorder using a compound as disclosed herein either alone or in combination with another agent or intervention traditionally used for the treatment of such disease may be packaged into a kit. Specifically, the present invention provides a kit for use in the therapeutic intervention of the disease comprising a packaged set of medicaments that include the compound disclosed herein as well as buffers and other components for preparing deliverable forms of said medicaments, and/or devices for delivering such medicaments, and/or any agents that are used in combination therapy with the compound disclosed herein, and/or instructions for the treatment of the disease packaged with the medicaments. The instructions may be fixed in any tangible medium, such as printed paper, or a computer readable magnetic or optical medium, or instructions to reference a remote computer data source such as a world wide web page accessible via the internet.

A “therapeutically effective amount” means an amount effective to treat or to prevent development of, or to alleviate the existing symptoms of, the subject being treated. Determination of the effective amounts is well within the capability of those skilled in the art, especially in light of the detailed disclosure provided herein. Generally, a “therapeutically effective dose” refers to that amount of the compound that results in achieving the desired effect. For example, in one preferred embodiment, a therapeutically effective amount of a compound disclosed herein decreases KIF18A activity by at least 5%, compared to control, at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, at least 40%, at least 45%, at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, or at least 90%.

The amount of compound administered can be dependent on the subject being treated, on the subject's age, health, sex, and weight, the kind of concurrent treatment (if any), severity of the affliction, the nature of the effect desired, the manner and frequency of treatment, and the judgment of the prescribing physician. The frequency of dosing also can be dependent on pharmacodynamic effects on arterial oxygen pressures. While individual needs vary, determination of optimal ranges of effective amounts of the compound is within the skill of the art. Such doses may be administered in a single dose or it may be divided into multiple doses.

The terms “cancer” and “cancerous” when used herein refer to or describe the physiological condition in mammals that is typically characterized by unregulated cell growth. Examples of cancer include, without limitation, carcinoma, lymphoma, sarcoma, blastoma and leukemia. More particular examples of such cancers include squamous cell carcinoma, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, cervical cancer, bladder cancer, hepatoma, breast cancer, colon carcinoma, and head and neck cancer, ovarian cancer, and endometrial cancer. While the term “cancer” as used herein is not limited to any one specific form of the disease, it is believed that the methods of the invention will be particularly effective for cancers which are found to be accompanied by unregulated levels of KIF18A or dependent on KIF18A for proper chromosome segregation and survival in the mammal.

The terms “treat”, “treating” and “treatment” as used herein refer to therapy, including without limitation, curative therapy, prophylactic therapy, and preventative therapy. Prophylactic treatment generally constitutes either preventing the onset of disorders altogether or delaying the onset of a pre-clinically evident stage of disorders in individuals.

The term “patient”, “subject”, or “mammal” as used herein refers to any “patient”, “subject”, or “mammal” including humans, cows, horses, dogs and cats. In one embodiment of the invention, the mammal is a human.

The term “comprising” is meant to be open ended, including the indicated component(s) but not excluding other elements.

The terms “Formula I” include any sub formulas.

Methods of Using KIF18A Inhibitors

The present disclosure provides compounds having MT-based KIF18A modulatory activity in general, and inhibitory activity in particular. In one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method of modulating KIF18A protein in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective dosage amount of a compound of Formulas I. As such, the compounds of the invention may be used to treat cellular proliferation disorders, including uncontrolled cell growth, aberrant cell cycle regulation, centrosome abnormalities (structural and or numeric). Other diseases or disorders associated with the accumulation of extra centrosomes (>2) include human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, including HPV-associated neoplasias. The compounds are also useful for cilia-related diseases as well as ablating haploid germ cell population which could be used as a male contraceptive.

In addition, compounds of the invention are useful for, but not limited to, the prevention or treatment of cancer and other KIF18A-mediated diseases or disorders. For example, compounds of the invention would be useful for the treatment of various solid and hematologically derived tumors, such as carcinomas, including, without limitation, cancer of the bladder, breast, colon, kidney, liver, lung (including squamous cell and small cell lung cancer), esophagus, gall-bladder, ovary, pancreas, stomach, cervix, thyroid, prostate, and skin (including squamous cell carcinoma); hematopoietic tumors of lymphoid lineage (including leukemia, acute lymphocitic leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, B-cell lymphoma, T-cell-lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, hairy cell lymphoma and Burkett's lymphoma); hematopoietic tumors of myeloid lineage (including acute and chronic myelogenous leukemias, myelodysplastic syndrome and promyelocytic leukemia); tumors of mesenchymal origin (including fibrosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma, and other sarcomas, e.g. soft tissue and bone); tumors of the central and peripheral nervous system (including astrocytoma, neuroblastoma, glioma and schwannomas); and other tumors (including melanoma, seminoma, teratocarcinoma, osteosarcoma, xenoderoma pigmentosum, keratoctanthoma, thyroid follicular cancer and Kaposi's sarcoma).

The compounds of the invention are also useful in the treatment of cancer related indications such as solid tumors, sarcomas (especially Ewing's sarcoma and osteosarcoma), retinoblastoma, rhabdomyosarcomas, neuroblastoma, hematopoietic malignancies, including leukemia and lymphoma, tumor-induced pleural or pericardial effusions, and malignant ascites.

Based on the ability to modulate kinesin impacting angiogenesis, the compounds of the invention are also useful in treatment and therapy of proliferative diseases. Particularly, these compounds can be used for the treatment of an inflammatory disease, especially of manifestations at the locomotor apparatus, such as various inflammatory rheumatoid diseases, especially chronic polyarthritis including rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile arthritis or psoriasis arthropathy; paraneoplastic syndrome or tumor-induced inflammatory diseases, turbid effusions, collagenosis, such as systemic Lupus erythematosus, poly-myositis, dermato-myositis, systemic sclerodermia or mixed collagenosis; postinfectious arthritis (where no living pathogenic organism can be found at or in the affected part of the body), seronegative spondylarthritis, such as spondylitis ankylosans; vasculitis, sarcoidosis, or arthrosis; or further any combinations thereof.

The compounds of the invention can also be used as active agents against such disease states as arthritis, atherosclerosis, psoriasis, hemangiomas, myocardial angiogenesis, coronary and cerebral collaterals, ischemic limb angiogenesis, wound healing, peptic ulcer Helicobacter related diseases, fractures, cat scratch fever, rubeosis, neovascular glaucoma and retinopathies such as those associated with diabetic retinopathy or macular degeneration. In addition, some of these compounds can be used as active agents against solid tumors, malignant ascites, hematopoietic cancers and hyperproliferative disorders such as thyroid hyperplasia (especially Grave's disease), and cysts (such as hypervascularity of ovarian stroma, characteristic of polycystic ovarian syndrome (Stein-Leventhal syndrome)) since such diseases require a proliferation of blood vessel cells for growth and/or metastasis.

Besides being useful for human treatment, these compounds are useful for veterinary treatment of companion animals, exotic animals and farm animals, including mammals, rodents, and the like. For example, animals including horses, dogs, and cats may be treated with compounds provided by the invention.

While the compounds of the invention can be dosed or administered as the sole active pharmaceutical agent, they can also be used in combination with one or more compounds of the invention or in conjunction with other agents. When administered as a combination, the therapeutic agents can be formulated as separate compositions that are administered simultaneously or sequentially at different times, or the therapeutic agents can be given as a single composition.

The phrase “co-therapy” (or “combination-therapy”), in defining use of a compound of the present invention and another pharmaceutical agent, is intended to embrace administration of each agent in a sequential manner in a regimen that will provide beneficial effects of the drug combination, and is intended as well to embrace co-administration of these agents in a substantially simultaneous manner, such as in a single capsule having a fixed ratio of these active agents or in multiple, separate capsules for each agent.

Specifically, the administration of compounds of the present invention may be in conjunction with additional therapies known to those skilled in the art in the prevention or treatment of cancer, such as with radiation therapy, small molecule targeted agents (e.g. PARP inhibitors, kinase inhibitors), therapeutic antibodies (e.g. naked and drug-conjugate) immunotherapy antibodies (checkpoint inhibitors, bi-specific T-cell engagers) with neoplastic or cytotoxic agents.

If formulated as a fixed dose, such combination products employ the compounds of this invention within the accepted dosage ranges. Compounds of Formula I may also be administered sequentially with known anticancer or cytotoxic agents when a combination formulation is inappropriate. The invention is not limited in the sequence of administration; compounds of the invention may be administered either prior to, simultaneous with or after administration of the known anticancer or cytotoxic agent.

There are large numbers of anticancer agents available in commercial use, in clinical evaluation and in pre-clinical development, which would be selected for treatment of neoplasia by combination drug chemotherapy. Such agents fall into several major categories such as antibiotic-type agents, alkylating and alkylating-like agents, antimitotic agents, targeted small molecule agents, antimetabolite agents, hormonal agents, immunological agents, anti-angiogenic agents, interferon-type agents and a category of miscellaneous agents.

The present disclosure also provides methods for combination therapies in which an agent known to modulate other pathways, or other components of the same pathway, or even overlapping sets of target enzymes are used in combination with a compound of the present disclosure, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. In one aspect, such therapy includes but is not limited to the combination of one or more compounds of the disclosure with chemotherapeutic agents, therapeutic antibodies, targeted small molecule agents, and radiation treatment, to provide a synergistic or additive therapeutic effect.

Many chemotherapeutics are presently known in the art and can be used in combination with the compounds of the disclosure. In some embodiments, the chemotherapeutic is selected from the group consisting of antimitotic agents, alkylating agents, anti-metabolites, intercalating antibiotics, growth factor inhibitors, cell cycle inhibitors, enzymes, topoisomerase inhibitors, biological response modifiers, anti-hormones, angiogenesis inhibitors, and anti-androgens. Non-limiting examples are chemotherapeutic agents, cytotoxic agents, and non-peptide small molecules such as Gleevec® (Imatinib Mesylate), Kyprolis® (carfilzomib), Velcade® (bortezomib), Casodex (bicalutamide), Iressa® (gefitinib), and Adriamycin as well as a host of chemotherapeutic agents. Non-limiting examples of chemotherapeutic agents include alkylating agents such as thiotepa and cyclosphosphamide (CYTOXAN™); alkyl sulfonates such as busulfan, improsulfan and piposulfan; aziridines such as benzodopa, carboquone, meturedopa, and uredopa; ethylenimines and methylamelamines including altretamine, triethylenemelamine, trietylenephosphoramide, triethylenethiophosphaoramide and trimethylolomelamine; nitrogen mustards such as chlorambucil, chlornaphazine, cholophosphamide, estramustine, ifosfamide, mechlorethamine, mechlorethamine oxide hydrochloride, melphalan, novembichin, phenesterine, prednimustine, trofosfamide, uracil mustard; nitrosureas such as carmustine, chlorozotocin, fotemustine, lomustine, nimustine, ranimustine; antibiotics such as aclacinomysins, actinomycin, authramycin, azaserine, bleomycins, cactinomycin, calicheamicin, carabicin, carminomycin, carzinophilin, Casodex™, chromomycins, dactinomycin, daunorubicin, detorubicin, 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine, doxorubicin, epirubicin, esorubicin, idarubicin, marcellomycin, mitomycins, mycophenolic acid, nogalamycin, olivomycins, peplomycin, potfiromycin, puromycin, quelamycin, rodorubicin, streptonigrin, streptozocin, tubercidin, ubenimex, zinostatin, zorubicin; anti-metabolites such as methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU); folic acid analogues such as denopterin, methotrexate, pteropterin, trimetrexate; purine analogs such as fludarabine, 6-mercaptopurine, thiamiprine, thioguanine; pyrimidine analogs such as ancitabine, azacitidine, 6-azauridine, carmofur, cytarabine, dideoxyuridine, doxifluridine, enocitabine, floxuridine, androgens such as calusterone, dromostanolone propionate, epitiostanol, mepitiostane, testolactone; anti-adrenals such as aminoglutethimide, mitotane, trilostane; folic acid replenisher such as frolinic acid; aceglatone; aldophosphamide glycoside; aminolevulinic acid; amsacrine; bestrabucil; bisantrene; edatraxate; defofamine; demecolcine; diaziquone; elformithine; elliptinium acetate; etoglucid; gallium nitrate; hydroxyurea; lentinan; lonidamine; mitoguazone; mitoxantrone; mopidamol; nitracrine; pentostatin; phenamet; pirarubicin; podophyllinic acid; 2-ethylhydrazide; procarbazine; PSK; razoxane; sizofiran; spirogermanium; tenuazonic acid; triaziquone; 2,2′,2″-trichlorotriethylamine; urethan; vindesine; dacarbazine; mannomustine; mitobronitol; mitolactol; pipobroman; gacytosine; arabinoside (“Ara-C”); cyclophosphamide; thiotepa; taxanes, e.g. paclitaxel and docetaxel, Nab-paclitaxel; retinoic acid; esperamicins; capecitabine; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, acids or derivatives of any of the above.

Also included as suitable chemotherapeutic cell conditioners are anti-hormonal agents that act to regulate or inhibit hormone action on tumors such as anti-estrogens including for example tamoxifen, (Nolvadex™), raloxifene, aromatase inhibiting 4(5)-imidazoles, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, trioxifene, keoxifene, LY 117018, onapristone, and toremifene (Fareston); and anti-androgens such as flutamide, nilutamide, bicalutamide, leuprolide, and goserelin; chlorambucil; gemcitabine; 6-thioguanine; mercaptopurine; methotrexate; platinum analogs such as cisplatin, oxaliplatin, carboplatin; etoposide (VP-16); ifosfamide; mitomycin C; mitoxantrone; vinblastine vincristine; vinorelbine; navelbine; novantrone; teniposide; daunomycin; aminopterin; xeloda; ibandronate; topotecan; camptothecin-11 (CPT-11); topoisomerase inhibitor RFS 2000; difluoromethylornithine (DMFO),

Where desired, the compounds or pharmaceutical composition of the present disclosure can be used in combination with commonly prescribed anti-cancer drugs such as Herceptin®, Avastin®, Erbitux®, Rituxan®, Taxol®, Abraxane, Arimidex®, Taxotere®, ABVD, AVICINE, Abagovomab, Acridine carboxamide, Adecatumumab, 17-N-Allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin, Alpharadin, Alvocidib, 3-Aminopyridine-2-carboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazone, Amonafide, Anthracenedione, Anti-CD22 immunotoxins, Antineoplastic, Antitumorigenic herbs, Apaziquone, Atiprimod, Azathioprine, Belotecan, Bendamustine, BIBW 2992, Biricodar, Brostallicin, Bryostatin, Buthionine sulfoximine, CBV (chemotherapy), Calyculin, cell-cycle nonspecific antineoplastic agents, Dichloroacetic acid, Discodermolide, Elsamitrucin, Enocitabine, Epothilone, Eribulin, Everolimus, Exatecan, Exisulind, Ferruginol, Forodesine, Fosfestrol, ICE chemotherapy regimen, IT-101, Imexon, Imiquimod, Indolocarbazole, Irofulven, Laniquidar, Larotaxel, Lenalidomide, Lucanthone, Lurtotecan, Mafosfamide, Mitozolomide, Nafoxidine, Nedaplatin, Olaparib, Talazoparib, Niraparib, Ortataxel, PAC-1, Pawpaw, Pixantrone, Proteasome inhibitor, Rebeccamycin, Resiquimod, Rubitecan, SN-38, Salinosporamide A, Sapacitabine, Stanford V, Swainsonine, Talaporfin, Tariquidar, Tegafur-uracil, Temodar, Tesetaxel, Triplatin tetranitrate, Tris(2-chloroethyl)amine, Troxacitabine, Uramustine, Vadimezan, Vinflunine, ZD6126 or Zosuquidar, CDK4/6 inhibitors (Palbociclib, Ibrance; Ribociclib, Kisqali; Abemaciclib, Verzenio).

This disclosure further relates to a method for using the compounds or pharmaceutical compositions provided herein, in combination with radiation therapy for inhibiting abnormal cell growth or treating the hyperproliferative disorder in the mammal. Techniques for administering radiation therapy are known in the art, and these techniques can be used in the combination therapy described herein. The administration of the compound of the disclosure in this combination therapy can be determined as described herein.

Radiation therapy can be administered through one of several methods, or a combination of methods, including without limitation external-beam therapy, internal radiation therapy, implant radiation, stereotactic radiosurgery, systemic radiation therapy, radiotherapy and permanent or temporary interstitial brachytherapy. The term “brachytherapy,” as used herein, refers to radiation therapy delivered by a spatially confined radioactive material inserted into the body at or near a tumor or other proliferative tissue disease site. The term is intended without limitation to include exposure to radioactive isotopes (e.g. At-211, I-131, I-125, Y-90, Re-186, Re-188, Sm-153, Bi-212, P-32, and radioactive isotopes of Lu). Suitable radiation sources for use as a cell conditioner of the present disclosure include both solids and liquids. By way of non-limiting example, the radiation source can be a radionuclide, such as I-125, I-131, Yb-169, Ir-192 as a solid source, I-125 as a solid source, or other radionuclides that emit photons, beta particles, gamma radiation, or other therapeutic rays. The radioactive material can also be a fluid made from any solution of radionuclide(s), e.g., a solution of 1-125 or 1-131, or a radioactive fluid can be produced using a slurry of a suitable fluid containing small particles of solid radionuclides, such as Au-198, Y-90. Moreover, the radionuclide(s) can be embodied in a gel or radioactive micro spheres.

The compounds or pharmaceutical compositions of the disclosure can be used in combination with an amount of one or more substances selected from anti-angiogenesis agents, signal transduction inhibitors, antiproliferative agents, glycolysis inhibitors, or autophagy inhibitors.

Anti-angiogenesis agents, such as MMP-2 (matrix-metalloproteinase 2) inhibitors, MMP-9 (matrix-metalloproteinase 9) inhibitors, and COX-11 (cyclooxygenase 11) inhibitors, can be used in conjunction with a compound of the disclosure and pharmaceutical compositions described herein. Anti-angiogenesis agents include, for example, rapamycin, temsirolimus (CCI-779), everolimus (RAD001), sorafenib, sunitinib, and bevacizumab. Examples of useful COX-II inhibitors include alecoxib, valdecoxib, and rofecoxib. Examples of useful matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors are described in WO 96/33172 WO 96/27583 European Patent Publication EP0818442, European Patent Publication EP1004578, WO 98/07697, WO 98/03516, WO 98/34918, WO 98/34915, WO 98/33768, WO 98/30566, European Patent Publication 606046, European Patent Publication 931 788, WO 90/05719, WO 99/52910, WO 99/52889, WO 99/29667, WO1999007675, European Patent Publication EP1786785, European Patent Publication No. EP 1181017, United States Publication No. US20090012085, United States Publication U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,949, United States Publication U.S. Pat. No. 5,861,510, and European Patent Publication EP0780386, all of which are incorporated herein in their entireties by reference. Preferred MMP-2 and MMP-9 inhibitors are those that have little or no activity inhibiting MMP-1. More preferred, are those that selectively inhibit MMP-2 and/or AMP-9 relative to the other matrix-metalloproteinases (i. e., MAP-1, MMP-3, MMP-4, MMP-5, MMP-6, MMP-7, MMP-8, MMP-10, MMP-11, MMP-12, and MMP-13). Some specific examples of MMP inhibitors useful in the disclosure are AG-3340, RO 32-3555, and RS 13-0830.

The present compounds may also be used in co-therapies with other anti-neoplastic agents, such as acemannan, aclarubicin, aldesleukin, alemtuzumab, alitretinoin, altretamine, amifostine, aminolevulinic acid, amrubicin, amsacrine, anagrelide, anastrozole, ANCER, ancestim, ARGLABIN, arsenic trioxide, BAM 002 (Novelos), bexarotene, bicalutamide, broxuridine, capecitabine, celmoleukin, cetrorelix, cladribine, clotrimazole, cytarabine ocfosfate, DA 3030 (Dong-A), daclizumab, denileukin diftitox, deslorelin, dexrazoxane, dilazep, docetaxel, docosanol, doxercalciferol, doxifluridine, doxorubicin, bromocriptine, carmustine, cytarabine, fluorouracil, HIT diclofenac, interferon alfa, daunorubicin, doxorubicin, tretinoin, edelfosine, edrecolomab, eflornithine, emitefur, epirubicin, epoetin beta, etoposide phosphate, exemestane, exisulind, fadrozole, filgrastim, finasteride, fludarabine phosphate, formestane, fotemustine, gallium nitrate, gemcitabine, gemtuzumab zogamicin, gimeracil/oteracil/tegafur combination, glycopine, goserelin, heptaplatin, human chorionic gonadotropin, human fetal alpha fetoprotein, ibandronic acid, idarubicin, (imiquimod, interferon alfa, interferon alfa, natural, interferon alfa-2, interferon alfa-2a, interferon alfa-2b, interferon alfa-N1, interferon alfa-n3, interferon alfacon-1, interferon alpha, natural, interferon beta, interferon beta-1a, interferon beta-1b, interferon gamma, natural interferon gamma-1a, interferon gamma-1b, interleukin-1 beta, iobenguane, irinotecan, irsogladine, lanreotide, LC 9018 (Yakult), leflunomide, lenograstim, lentinan sulfate, letrozole, leukocyte alpha interferon, leuprorelin, levamisole+fluorouracil, liarozole, lobaplatin, lonidamine, lovastatin, masoprocol, melarsoprol, metoclopramide, mifepristone, miltefosine, mirimostim, mismatched double stranded RNA, mitoguazone, mitolactol, mitoxantrone, molgramostim, nafarelin, naloxone+pentazocine, nartograstim, nedaplatin, nilutamide, noscapine, novel erythropoiesis stimulating protein, NSC 631570 octreotide, oprelvekin, osaterone, oxaliplatin, paclitaxel, pamidronic acid, pegaspargase, peginterferon alfa-2b, pentosan polysulfate sodium, pentostatin, picibanil, pirarubicin, rabbit antithymocyte polyclonal antibody, polyethylene glycol interferon alfa-2a, porfimer sodium, raloxifene, raltitrexed, rasburiembodiment, rhenium Re 186 etidronate, RII retinamide, rituximab, romurtide, samarium (153 Sm) lexidronam, sargramostim, sizofiran, sobuzoxane, sonermin, strontium-89 chloride, suramin, tasonermin, tazarotene, tegafur, temoporfin, temozolomide, teniposide, tetrachlorodecaoxide, thalidomide, thymalfasin, thyrotropin alfa, topotecan, toremifene, tositumomab-iodine 131, trastuzumab, treosulfan, tretinoin, trilostane, trimetrexate, triptorelin, tumor necrosis factor alpha, natural, ubenimex, bladder cancer vaccine, Maruyama vaccine, melanoma lysate vaccine, valrubicin, verteporfin, vinorelbine, VIRULIZIN, zinostatin stimalamer, or zoledronic acid; abarelix; AE 941 (Aetema), ambamustine, antisense oligonucleotide, bcl-2 (Genta), APC 8015 (Dendreon), cetuximab, decitabine, dexaminoglutethimide, diaziquone, EL 532 (Elan), EM 800 (Endorecherche), eniluracil, etanidazole, fenretinide, filgrastim SD01 (Amgen), fulvestrant, galocitabine, gastrin 17 immunogen, HLA-B7 gene therapy (Vical), granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor, histamine dihydrochloride, ibritumomab tiuxetan, ilomastat, IM 862 (Cytran), interleukin-2, iproxifene, LDI 200 (Milkhaus), leridistim, lintuzumab, CA 125 MAb (Biomira), cancer MAb (Japan Pharmaceutical Development), HER-2 and Fc MAb (Medarex), idiotypic 105AD7 MAb (CRC Technology), idiotypic CEA MAb (Trilex), LYM-1-iodine 131 MAb (Techniclone), polymorphic epithelial mucin-yttrium 90 MAb (Antisoma), marimastat, menogaril, mitumomab, motexafin gadolinium, MX 6 (Galderma), nelarabine, nolatrexed, P 30 protein, pegvisomant, pemetrexed, porfiromycin, prinomastat, RL 0903 (Shire), rubitecan, satraplatin, sodium phenylacetate, sparfosic acid, SRL 172 (SR Pharma), SU 5416 (SUGEN), TA 077 (Tanabe), tetrathiomolybdate, thaliblastine, thrombopoietin, tin ethyl etiopurpurin, tirapazamine, cancer vaccine (Biomira), melanoma vaccine (New York University), melanoma vaccine (Sloan Kettering Institute), melanoma oncolysate vaccine (New York Medical College), viral melanoma cell lysates vaccine (Royal Newcastle Hospital), or valspodar.

The compounds of the invention may further be used with VEGFR inhibitors. Other compounds described in the following patents and patent applications can be used in combination therapy: U.S. Pat. No. 6,258,812, US 2003/0105091, WO 01/37820, U.S. Pat. No. 6,235,764, WO 01/32651, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,630,500, 6,515,004, 6,713,485, 5,521,184, 5,770,599, 5,747,498, WO 02/68406, WO 02/66470, WO 02/55501, WO 04/05279, WO 04/07481, WO 04/07458, WO 04/09784, WO 02/59110, WO 99/45009, WO 00/59509, WO 99/61422, U.S. Pat. No. 5,990,141, WO 00/12089, and WO 00/02871.

In some embodiments, the combination comprises a composition of the present invention in combination with at least one anti-angiogenic agent. Agents are inclusive of, but not limited to, in vitro synthetically prepared chemical compositions, antibodies, antigen binding regions, radionuclides, and combinations and conjugates thereof. An agent can be an agonist, antagonist, allosteric modulator, toxin or, more generally, may act to inhibit or stimulate its target (e.g., receptor or enzyme activation or inhibition), and thereby promote cell death or arrest cell growth.

Exemplary anti-angiogenic agents include ERBITUX™ (IMC-C225), KDR (kinase domain receptor) inhibitory agents (e.g., antibodies and antigen binding regions that specifically bind to the kinase domain receptor), anti-VEGF agents (e.g., antibodies or antigen binding regions that specifically bind VEGF, or soluble VEGF receptors or a ligand binding region thereof) such as AVASTIN™ or VEGF-TRAP™, and anti-VEGF receptor agents (e.g., antibodies or antigen binding regions that specifically bind thereto), EGFR inhibitory agents (e.g., antibodies or antigen binding regions that specifically bind thereto) such as Vectibix (panitumumab), IRESSA™ (gefitinib), TARCEVA™ (erlotinib), anti-Ang1 and anti-Ang2 agents (e.g., antibodies or antigen binding regions specifically binding thereto or to their receptors, e.g., Tie2/Tek), and anti-Tie2 kinase inhibitory agents (e.g., antibodies or antigen binding regions that specifically bind thereto). The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention can also include one or more agents (e.g., antibodies, antigen binding regions, or soluble receptors) that specifically bind and inhibit the activity of growth factors, such as antagonists of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF, also known as Scatter Factor), and antibodies or antigen binding regions that specifically bind its receptor “c-met”.

Other anti-angiogenic agents include Campath, IL-8, B-FGF, Tek antagonists (Ceretti et al., U.S. Publication No. 2003/0162712; U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,932), anti-TWEAK agents (e.g., specifically binding antibodies or antigen binding regions, or soluble TWEAK receptor antagonists; see, Wiley, U.S. Pat. No. 6,727,225), ADAM disintegrin domain to antagonize the binding of integrin to its ligands (Fanslow et al., U.S. Publication No. 2002/0042368), specifically binding anti-eph receptor and/or anti-ephrin antibodies or antigen binding regions (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,981,245; 5,728,813; 5,969,110; 6,596,852; 6,232,447; 6,057,124 and patent family members thereof), and anti-PDGF-BB antagonists (e.g., specifically binding antibodies or antigen binding regions) as well as antibodies or antigen binding regions specifically binding to PDGF-BB ligands, and PDGFR kinase inhibitory agents (e.g., antibodies or antigen binding regions that specifically bind thereto).

Additional anti-angiogenic/anti-tumor agents include: SD-7784 (Pfizer, USA); cilengitide. (Merck KGaA, Germany, EPO 770622); pegaptanib octasodium, (Gilead Sciences, USA); Alphastatin, (BioActa, UK); M-PGA, (Celgene, USA, U.S. Pat. No. 5,712,291); ilomastat, (Arriva, USA, U.S. Pat. No. 5,892,112); emaxanib, (Pfizer, USA, U.S. Pat. No. 5,792,783); vatalanib, (Novartis, Switzerland); 2-methoxyestradiol, (EntreMed, USA); TLC ELL-12, (Elan, Ireland); anecortave acetate, (Alcon, USA); alpha-D148 Mab, (Amgen, USA); CEP-7055, (Cephalon, USA); anti-Vn Mab, (Crucell, Netherlands) DAC:antiangiogenic, (ConjuChem, Canada); Angiocidin, (InKine Pharmaceutical, USA); KM-2550, (Kyowa Hakko, Japan); SU-0879, (Pfizer, USA); CGP-79787, (Novartis, Switzerland, EP 970070); ARGENT technology, (Ariad, USA); YIGSR-Stealth, (Johnson & Johnson, USA); fibrinogen-E fragment, (BioActa, UK); angiogenesis inhibitor, (Trigen, UK); TBC-1635, (Encysive Pharmaceuticals, USA); SC-236, (Pfizer, USA); ABT-567, (Abbott, USA); Metastatin, (EntreMed, USA); angiogenesis inhibitor, (Tripep, Sweden); maspin, (Sosei, Japan); 2-methoxyestradiol, (Oncology Sciences Corporation, USA); ER-68203-00, (IVAX, USA); Benefin, (Lane Labs, USA); Tz-93, (Tsumura, Japan); TAN-1120, (Takeda, Japan); FR-111142, (Fujisawa, Japan, JP 02233610); platelet factor 4, (RepliGen, USA, EP 407122); vascular endothelial growth factor antagonist, (Borean, Denmark); bevacizumab (pINN), (Genentech, USA); angiogenesis inhibitors, (SUGEN, USA); XL 784, (Exelixis, USA); XL 647, (Exelixis, USA); MAb, alpha5beta3 integrin, second generation, (Applied Molecular Evolution, USA and MedImmune, USA); gene therapy, retinopathy, (Oxford BioMedica, UK); enzastaurin hydrochloride (USAN), (Lilly, USA); CEP 7055, (Cephalon, USA and Sanofi-Synthelabo, France); BC 1, (Genoa Institute of Cancer Research, Italy); angiogenesis inhibitor, (Alchemia, Australia); VEGF antagonist, (Regeneron, USA); rBPI 21 and BPI-derived antiangiogenic, (XOMA, USA); PI 88, (Progen, Australia); cilengitide (plNN), (Merck KGaA, German; Munich Technical University, Germany, Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, USA); cetuximab (INN), (Aventis, France); AVE 8062, (Ajinomoto, Japan); AS 1404, (Cancer Research Laboratory, New Zealand); SG 292, (Telios, USA); Endostatin, (Boston Childrens Hospital, USA); ATN 161, (Attenuon, USA); ANGIOSTATIN, (Boston Childrens Hospital, USA); 2-methoxyestradiol, (Boston Childrens Hospital, USA); ZD 6474, (AstraZeneca, UK); ZD 6126, (Angiogene Pharmaceuticals, UK); PPI 2458, (Praecis, USA); AZD 9935, (AstraZeneca, UK); AZD 2171, (AstraZeneca, UK); vatalanib (pINN), (Novartis, Switzerland and Schering AG, Germany); tissue factor pathway inhibitors, (EntreMed, USA); pegaptanib (Pinn), (Gilead Sciences, USA); xanthorrhizol, (Yonsei University, South Korea); vaccine, gene-based, VEGF-2, (Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, USA); SPV5.2, (Supratek, Canada); SDX 103, (University of California at San Diego, USA); PX 478, (ProlX, USA); METASTATIN, (EntreMed, USA); troponin I, (Harvard University, USA); SU 6668, (SUGEN, USA); OXI 4503, (OXiGENE, USA); o-guanidines, (Dimensional Pharmaceuticals, USA); motuporamine C, (British Columbia University, Canada); CDP 791, (Celltech Group, UK); atiprimod (pINN), (GlaxoSmithKline, UK); E 7820, (Eisai, Japan); CYC 381, (Harvard University, USA); AE 941, (Aeterna, Canada); vaccine, angiogenesis, (EntreMed, USA); urokinase plasminogen activator inhibitor, (Dendreon, USA); oglufanide (pINN), (Melmotte, USA); HIF-1alfa inhibitors, (Xenova, UK); CEP 5214, (Cephalon, USA); BAY RES 2622, (Bayer, Germany); Angiocidin, (InKine, USA); A6, (Angstrom, USA); KR 31372, (Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, South Korea); GW 2286, (GlaxoSmithKline, UK); EHT 0101, (ExonHit, France); CP 868596, (Pfizer, USA); CP 564959, (OSI, USA); CP 547632, (Pfizer, USA); 786034, (GlaxoSmithKline, UK); KRN 633, (Kirin Brewery, Japan); drug delivery system, intraocular, 2-methoxyestradiol, (EntreMed, USA); anginex, (Maastricht University, Netherlands, and Minnesota University, USA); ABT 510, (Abbott, USA); AAL 993, (Novartis, Switzerland); VEGI, (ProteomTech, USA); tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors, (National Institute on Aging, USA); SU 11248, (Pfizer, USA and SUGEN USA); ABT 518, (Abbott, USA); YH16, (Yantai Rongchang, China); S-3APG, (Boston Childrens Hospital, USA and EntreMed, USA); MAb, KDR, (ImClone Systems, USA); MAb, alpha5 beta1, (Protein Design, USA); KDR kinase inhibitor, (Celltech Group, UK, and Johnson & Johnson, USA); GFB 116, (South Florida University, USA and Yale University, USA); CS 706, (Sankyo, Japan); combretastatin A4 prodrug, (Arizona State University, USA); chondroitinase AC, (IBEX, Canada); BAY RES 2690, (Bayer, Germany); AGM 1470, (Harvard University, USA, Takeda, Japan, and TAP, USA); AG 13925, (Agouron, USA); Tetrathiomolybdate, (University of Michigan, USA); GCS 100, (Wayne State University, USA) CV 247, (Ivy Medical, UK); CKD 732, (Chong Kun Dang, South Korea); MAb, vascular endothelium growth factor, (Xenova, UK); irsogladine (INN), (Nippon Shinyaku, Japan); RG 13577, (Aventis, France); WX 360, (Wilex, Germany); squalamine (pINN), (Genaera, USA); RPI 4610, (Sirna, USA); cancer therapy, (Marinova, Australia); heparanase inhibitors, (InSight, Israel); KL 3106, (Kolon, South Korea); Honokiol, (Emory University, USA); ZK CDK, (Schering AG, Germany); ZK Angio, (Schering AG, Germany); ZK 229561, (Novartis, Switzerland, and Schering AG, Germany); XMP 300, (XOMA, USA); VGA 1102, (Taisho, Japan); VEGF receptor modulators, (Pharmacopeia, USA); VE-cadherin-2 antagonists, (ImClone Systems, USA); Vasostatin, (National Institutes of Health, USA); vaccine, Flk-1, (ImClone Systems, USA); TZ 93, (Tsumura, Japan); TumStatin, (Beth Israel Hospital, USA); truncated soluble FLT 1 (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1), (Merck & Co, USA); Tie-2 ligands, (Regeneron, USA); and, thrombospondin 1 inhibitor, (Allegheny Health, Education and Research Foundation, USA).

Autophagy inhibitors include, but are not limited to chloroquine, 3-methyladenine, hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil™), bafilomycin A1, 5-amino-4-imidazole carboxamide riboside (AICAR), okadaic acid, autophagy-suppressive algal toxins which inhibit protein phosphatases of type 2A or type 1, analogues of cAMP, and drugs which elevate cAMP levels such as adenosine, LY204002, N6-mercaptopurine riboside, and vinblastine. In addition, antisense or siRNA that inhibits expression of proteins including but not limited to ATG5 (which are implicated in autophagy), may also be used.

Additional pharmaceutically active compounds/agents that can be used in the treatment of cancers and that can be used in combination with one or more compound of the present invention include: epoetin alfa; darbepoetin alfa; panitumumab; pegfilgrastim; palifermin; filgrastim; denosumab; ancestim; AMG 102; AMG 386; AMG 479; AMG 655; AMG 745; AMG 951; and AMG 706, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In certain embodiments, a composition provided herein is conjointly administered with a chemotherapeutic agent. Suitable chemotherapeutic agents may include, natural products such as vinca alkaloids (e.g., vinblastine, vincristine, and vinorelbine), paclitaxel, epidipodophyllotoxins (e.g., etoposide and teniposide), antibiotics (e.g., dactinomycin (actinomycin D), daunorubicin, doxorubicin, and idarubicin), anthracyclines, mitoxantrone, bleomycins, plicamycin (mithramycin), mitomycin, enzymes (e.g., L-asparaginase which systemically metabolizes L-asparagine and deprives cells which do not have the capacity to synthesize their own asparagine), antiplatelet agents, antiproliferative/antimitotic alkylating agents such as nitrogen mustards (e.g., mechlorethamine, cyclophosphamide and analogs, melphalan, and chlorambucil), ethylenimines and methylmelamines (e.g., hexaamethylmelaamine and thiotepa), CDK inhibitors (e.g., seliciclib, UCN-01, P1446A-05, PD-0332991, dinaciclib, P27-00, AT-7519, RGB286638, and SCH727965), alkyl sulfonates (e.g., busulfan), nitrosoureas (e.g., carmustine (BCNU) and analogs, and streptozocin), trazenes-dacarbazinine (DTIC), antiproliferative/antimitotic antimetabolites such as folic acid analogs (e.g., methotrexate), pyrimidine analogs (e.g., fluorouracil, floxuridine, and cytarabine), purine analogs and related inhibitors (e.g., mercaptopurine, thioguanine, pentostatin and 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine), aromatase inhibitors (e.g., anastrozole, exemestane, and letrozole), and platinum coordination complexes (e.g., cisplatin and carboplatin), procarbazine, hydroxyurea, mitotane, aminoglutethimide, histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors (e.g., trichostatin, sodium butyrate, apicidan, suberoyl anilide hydroamic acid, vorinostat, LBH 589, romidepsin, ACY-1215, and panobinostat), mTor inhibitors (e.g., temsirolimus, everolimus, ridaforolimus, and sirolimus), KSP(Eg5) inhibitors (e.g., Array 520), DNA binding agents (e.g., Zalypsis), PI3K delta inhibitor (e.g., GS-1101 and TGR-1202), PI3K delta and gamma inhibitor (e.g., CAL-130), multi-kinase inhibitor (e.g., TG02 and sorafenib), hormones (e.g., estrogen) and hormone agonists such as leutinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists (e.g., goserelin, leuprolide and triptorelin), BAFF-neutralizing antibody (e.g., LY2127399), IKK inhibitors, p38MAPK inhibitors, anti-IL-6 (e.g., CNT0328), telomerase inhibitors (e.g., GRN 163L), aurora kinase inhibitors (e.g., MLN8237, AMG 900, AZD-1152), cell surface monoclonal antibodies (e.g., anti-CD38 (HUMAX-CD38), anti-CS1 (e.g., elotuzumab), HSP90 inhibitors (e.g., 17 AAG and KOS 953), PI3K/Akt inhibitors (e.g., perifosine), Akt inhibitor (e.g., GSK-2141795), PKC inhibitors (e.g., enzastaurin), FTIs (e.g., Zarnestra™), anti-CD138 (e.g., BT062), Torcl/2 specific kinase inhibitor (e.g., INK128), kinase inhibitor (e.g., GS-1101), ER/UPR targeting agent (e.g., MKC-3946), cFMS inhibitor (e.g., ARRY-382), JAK1/2 inhibitor (e.g., CYT387), PARP inhibitor (e.g., olaparib, Talazoparib, Niraparib veliparib (ABT-888)), BCL-2 antagonist. Other chemotherapeutic agents may include mechlorethamine, camptothecin, ifosfamide, tamoxifen, raloxifene, gemcitabine, navelbine, sorafenib, or any analog or derivative variant of the foregoing.

The compounds of the present invention may also be used in combination with radiation therapy, hormone therapy, surgery and immunotherapy, which therapies are well known to those skilled in the art.

In certain embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition provided herein is conjointly administered with a steroid. Suitable steroids may include, but are not limited to, 21-acetoxypregnenolone, alclometasone, algestone, amcinonide, beclomethasone, betamethasone, budesonide, chloroprednisone, clobetasol, clocortolone, cloprednol, corticosterone, cortisone, cortivazol, deflazacort, desonide, desoximetasone, dexamethasone, diflorasone, diflucortolone, difuprednate, enoxolone, fluazacort, flucloronide, flumethasone, flunisolide, fluocinolone acetonide, fluocinonide, fluocortin butyl, fluocortolone, fluorometholone, fluperolone acetate, fluprednidene acetate, fluprednisolone, flurandrenolide, fluticasone propionate, formocortal, halcinonide, halobetasol propionate, halometasone, hydrocortisone, loteprednol etabonate, mazipredone, medrysone, meprednisone, methylprednisolone, mometasone furoate, paramethasone, prednicarbate, prednisolone, prednisolone 25-diethylaminoacetate, prednisolone sodium phosphate, prednisone, prednival, prednylidene, rimexolone, tixocortol, triamcinolone, triamcinolone acetonide, triamcinolone benetonide, triamcinolone hexacetonide, and salts and/or derivatives thereof. In a particular embodiment, the compounds of the present invention can also be used in combination with additional pharmaceutically active agents that treat nausea. Examples of agents that can be used to treat nausea include: dronabinol; granisetron; metoclopramide; ondansetron; and prochlorperazine; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The compounds or pharmaceutical compositions of the disclosure can also be used in combination with an amount of one or more substances selected from EGFR inhibitors, MEK inhibitors, PI3K inhibitors, AKT inhibitors, TOR inhibitors, and immune therapies, including anti-PD-1, anti-PDL-1, anti-CTLA4, anti-LAG1, and anti-OX40 agents, GITR agonists, CAR-T cells, and BiTEs.

EGFR inhibitors include, but are not limited to, small molecule antagonists, antibody inhibitors, or specific antisense nucleotide or siRNA. Useful antibody inhibitors of EGFR include cetuximab (Erbitux), panitumumab (Vectibix), zalutumumab, nimotuzumab, and matuzumab. Small molecule antagonists of EGFR include gefitinib, erlotinib (Tarceva), and most recently, lapatinib (TykerB). See e.g., Yan L, et. al., Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics In Oncology Therapeutic Antibody Development, BioTechniques 2005; 39(4): 565-8, and Paez J G, et. al., EGFR Mutations In Lung Cancer Correlation With Clinical Response To Gefitinib Therapy, Science 2004; 304(5676): 1497-500.

Non-limiting examples of small molecule EGFR inhibitors include any of the EGFR inhibitors described in the following patent publications, and all pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates of said EGFR inhibitors: European Patent Application EP 520722, published Dec. 30, 1992; European Patent Application EP 566226, published Oct. 20, 1993; PCT International Publication WO 96/33980, published Oct. 31, 1996; U.S. Pat. No. 5,747,498, issued May 5, 1998; PCT International Publication WO 96/30347, published Oct. 3, 1996; European Patent Application EP 787772, published Aug. 6, 1997; PCT International Publication WO 97/30034, published Aug. 21, 1997; PCT International Publication WO 97/30044, published Aug. 21, 1997; PCT International Publication WO 97/38994, published Oct. 23, 1997; PCT International Publication WO 97/49688, published Dec. 31, 1997; European Patent Application EP 837063, published Apr. 22, 1998; PCT International Publication WO 98/02434, published Jan. 22, 1998; PCT International Publication WO 97/38983, published Oct. 23, 1997; PCT International Publication WO 95/19774, published Jul. 27, 1995; PCT International Publication WO 95/19970, published Jul. 27, 1995; PCT International Publication WO 97/13771, published Apr. 17, 1997; PCT International Publication WO 98/02437, published Jan. 22, 1998; PCT International Publication WO 98/02438, published Jan. 22, 1998; PCT International Publication WO 97/32881, published Sep. 12, 1997; German Application DE 19629652, published Jan. 29, 1998; PCT International Publication WO 98/33798, published Aug. 6, 1998; PCT International Publication WO 97/32880, published Sep. 12, 1997; PCT International Publication WO 97/32880 published Sep. 12, 1997; European Patent Application EP 682027, published Nov. 15, 1995; PCT International Publication WO 97/02266, published Jan. 23, 197; PCT International Publication WO 97/27199, published Jul. 31, 1997; PCT International Publication WO 98/07726, published Feb. 26, 1998; PCT International Publication WO 97/34895, published Sep. 25, 1997; PCT International Publication WO 96/31510′, published Oct. 10, 1996; PCT International Publication WO 98/14449, published Apr. 9, 1998; PCT International Publication WO 98/14450, published Apr. 9, 1998; PCT International Publication WO 98/14451, published Apr. 9, 1998; PCT International Publication WO 95/09847, published Apr. 13, 1995; PCT International Publication WO 97/19065, published May 29, 1997; PCT International Publication WO 98/17662, published Apr. 30, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 5,789,427, issued Aug. 4, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 5,650,415, issued Jul. 22, 1997; U.S. Pat. No. 5,656,643, issued Aug. 12, 1997; PCT International Publication WO 99/35146, published Jul. 15, 1999; PCT International Publication WO 99/35132, published Jul. 15, 1999; PCT International Publication WO 99/07701, published Feb. 18, 1999; and PCT International Publication WO 92/20642 published Nov. 26, 1992. Additional non-limiting examples of small molecule EGFR inhibitors include any of the EGFR inhibitors described in Traxler, P., 1998, Exp. Opin. Ther. Patents 8(12):1599-1625.

Antibody-based EGFR inhibitors include any anti-EGFR antibody or antibody fragment that can partially or completely block EGFR activation by its natural ligand. Non-limiting examples of antibody-based EGFR inhibitors include those described in Modjtahedi, H., et al., 1993, Br. J. Cancer 67:247-253; Teramoto, T., et al., 1996, Cancer 77:639-645; Goldstein et al., 1995, Clin. Cancer Res. 1:1311-1318; Huang, S. M., et al., 1999, Cancer Res. 15:59(8):1935-40; and Yang, X., et al., 1999, Cancer Res. 59:1236-1243. Thus, the EGFR inhibitor can be monoclonal antibody Mab E7.6.3 (Yang, 1999 supra), or Mab C225 (ATCC Accession No. HB-8508), or an antibody or antibody fragment having the binding specificity thereof.

MEK inhibitors include, but are not limited to, CI-1040, AZD6244, PD318088, PD98059, PD334581, RDEA119, ARRY-142886, ARRY-438162, and PD-325901.

PI3K inhibitors include, but are not limited to, wortmannin, 17-hydroxywortmannin analogs described in WO 06/044453, 4-[2-(1H-Indazol-4-yl)-6-[[4-(methylsulfonyl)piperazin-1-yl]methyl]thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidin-4-yl]morpholine (also known as GDC 0941 and described in PCT Publication Nos. WO 09/036,082 and WO 09/055,730), 2-Methyl-2-[4-[3-methyl-2-oxo-8-(quinolin-3-yl)-2,3-dihydroimidazo[4,5-c]quinolin-1-yl]phenyl]propionitrile (also known as BEZ 235 or NVP-BEZ 235, and described in PCT Publication No. WO 06/122806), (S)-1-(4-((2-(2-aminopyrimidin-5-yl)-7-methyl-4-morpholinothieno[3,2-d]pyrimidin-6-yl)methyl)piperazin-1-yl)-2-hydroxypropan-1-one (described in PCT Publication No. WO 2008/070740), LY294002 (2-(4-Morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one available from Axon Medchem), PI 103 hydrochloride (3-[4-(4-morpholinylpyrido-[3′,2′:4,5]furo[3,2-d]pyrimidin-2-yl]phenol hydrochloride available from Axon Medchem), PIK 75 (N′-[(1E)-(6-bromoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl)methylene]-N,2-dimethyl-5-nitrobenzenesulfono-hydrazide hydrochloride available from Axon Medchem), PIK 90 (N-(7,8-dimethoxy-2,3-dihydro-imidazo[1,2-c]quinazolin-5-yl)-nicotinamide available from Axon Medchem), GDC-0941 bismesylate (2-(1H-Indazol-4-yl)-6-(4-methanesulfonyl-piperazin-1-ylmethyl)-4-morpholin-4-yl-thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine bismesylate available from Axon Medchem), AS-252424 (5-[1-[5-(4-Fluoro-2-hydroxy-phenyl)-furan-2-yl]-meth-(Z)-ylidene]-thiazolidine-2,4-dione available from Axon Medchem), and TGX-221 (7-Methyl-2-(4-morpholinyl)-9-[1-(phenylamino)ethyl]-4H-pyrido-[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4-one available from Axon Medchem), XL-765, and XL-147. Other PI3K inhibitors include demethoxyviridin, perifosine, CAL101, PX-866, BEZ235, SF1126, INK1117, IPI-145, BKM120, XL147, XL765, Palomid 529, GSK1059615, ZSTK474, PWT33597, IC87114, TG100-115, CAL263, PI-103, GNE-477, CUDC-907, and AEZS-136.

AKT inhibitors include, but are not limited to, Akt-1-1 (inhibits Akt1) (Barnett et al. (2005) Biochem. J., 385 (Pt. 2), 399-408); Akt-1-1,2 (inhibits Ak1 and 2) (Barnett et al. (2005) Biochem. J. 385 (Pt. 2), 399-408); API-59CJ-Ome (e.g., Jin et al. (2004) Br. J. Cancer 91, 1808-12); 1-H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridinyl compounds (e.g., WO05011700); indole-3-carbinol and derivatives thereof (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,656,963; Sarkar and Li (2004) J Nutr. 134 (12 Suppl), 3493S-3498S); perifosine (e.g., interferes with Akt membrane localization; Dasmahapatra et al. (2004) Clin. Cancer Res. 10(15), 5242-52, 2004); phosphatidylinositol ether lipid analogues (e.g., Gills and Dennis (2004) Expert. Opin. Investig. Drugs 13, 787-97); and triciribine (TCN or API-2 or NCI identifier: NSC 154020; Yang et al. (2004) Cancer Res. 64, 4394-9).

TOR inhibitors include, but are not limited to, inhibitors include AP-23573, CCI-779, everolimus, RAD-001, rapamycin, temsirolimus, ATP-competitive TORC1/TORC2 inhibitors, including PI-103, PP242, PP30 and Torin 1. Other TOR inhibitors in FKBP12 enhancer; rapamycins and derivatives thereof, including: CCI-779 (temsirolimus), RAD001 (Everolimus; WO 9409010) and AP23573; rapalogs, e.g. as disclosed in WO 98/02441 and WO 01/14387, e.g. AP23573, AP23464, or AP23841; 40-(2-hydroxyethyl)rapamycin, 40-[3-hydroxy(hydroxymethyl)methylpropanoate]-rapamycin (also called CC1779), 40-epi-(tetrazolyt)-rapamycin (also called ABT578), 32-deoxorapamycin, 16-pentynyloxy-32(S)-dihydrorapanycin, and other derivatives disclosed in WO 05005434; derivatives disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,258,389, WO 94/090101, WO 92/05179, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,118,677, 5,118,678, 5,100,883, 5,151,413, 5,120,842, WO 93/111130, WO 94/02136, WO 94/02485, WO 95/14023, WO 94/02136, WO 95/16691, WO 96/41807, WO 96/41807 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,256,790; phosphorus-containing rapamycin derivatives (e.g., WO 05016252); 4H-1-benzopyran-4-one derivatives (e.g., U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/528,340).

Immune therapies include, but are not limited to, anti-PD-1 agents, anti-PDL-1 agents, anti-CTLA-4 agents, anti-LAG1 agents, and anti-OX40 agents. Exemplary anti-PD-1 antibodies and methods for their use are described by Goldberg et al., Blood 110(1):186-192 (2007), Thompson et al., Clin. Cancer Res. 13(6):1757-1761 (2007), and Korman et al., International Application No. PCT/JP2006/309606 (publication no. WO 2006/121168 A1), each of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein. include: Yervoy™ (ipilimumab) or Tremelimumab (to CTLA-4), galiximab (to B7.1), BMS-936558 (to PD-1), MK-3475 (to PD-1), AMP224 (to B7DC), BMS-936559 (to B7-H1), MPDL3280A (to B7-H1), MEDI-570 (to ICOS), AMG557 (to B7H2), MGA271 (to B7H3), IMP321 (to LAG-3), BMS-663513 (to CD137), PF-05082566 (to CD137), CDX-1127 (to CD27), anti-OX40 (Providence Health Services), huMAbOX40L (to OX40L), Atacicept (to TACI), CP-870893 (to CD40), Lucatumumab (to CD40), Dacetuzumab (to CD40), Muromonab-CD3 (to CD3), Ipilumumab (to CTLA-4). Immune therapies also include genetically engineered T-cells (e.g., CAR-T cells) and bispecific antibodies (e.g., BiTEs).

GITR agonists include, but are not limited to, GITR fusion proteins and anti-GITR antibodies (e.g., bivalent anti-GITR antibodies), such as, a GITR fusion protein described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,111,090box.c, European Patent No.: 090505B1, U.S. Pat. No. 8,586,023, PCT Publication Nos.: WO 2010/003118 and 2011/090754, or an anti-GITR antibody described, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 7,025,962, European Patent No.: 1947183B1, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,812,135, 8,388,967, 8,591,886, European Patent No.: EP 1866339, PCT Publication No.: WO 2011/028683, PCT Publication No.: WO 2013/039954, PCT Publication No.: WO2005/007190, PCT Publication No.: WO 2007/133822, PCT Publication No.: WO2005/055808, PCT Publication No.: WO 99/40196, PCT Publication No.: WO 2001/03720, PCT Publication No.: WO99/20758, PCT Publication No.: WO2006/083289, PCT Publication No.: WO 2005/115451, U.S. Pat. No. 7,618,632, and PCT Publication No.: WO 2011/051726.

The compounds described herein can be used in combination with the agents disclosed herein or other suitable agents, depending on the condition being treated. Hence, in some embodiments the one or more compounds of the disclosure will be co-administered with other agents as described above. When used in combination therapy, the compounds described herein are administered with the second agent simultaneously or separately. This administration in combination can include simultaneous administration of the two agents in the same dosage form, simultaneous administration in separate dosage forms, and separate administration. That is, a compound described herein and any of the agents described above can be formulated together in the same dosage form and administered simultaneously. Alternatively, a compound of the disclosure and any of the agents described above can be simultaneously administered, wherein both the agents are present in separate formulations. In another alternative, a compound of the present disclosure can be administered just followed by and any of the agents described above, or vice versa. In some embodiments of the separate administration protocol, a compound of the disclosure and any of the agents described above are administered a few minutes apart, or a few hours apart, or a few days apart.

As one aspect of the present invention contemplates the treatment of the disease/conditions with a combination of pharmaceutically active compounds that may be administered separately, the invention further relates to combining separate pharmaceutical compositions in kit form. The kit comprises two separate pharmaceutical compositions: a compound of the present invention, and a second pharmaceutical compound. The kit comprises a container for containing the separate compositions such as a divided bottle or a divided foil packet. Additional examples of containers include syringes, boxes, and bags. In some embodiments, the kit comprises directions for the use of the separate components. The kit form is particularly advantageous when the separate components are preferably administered in different dosage forms (e.g., oral and parenteral), are administered at different dosage intervals, or when titration of the individual components of the combination is desired by the prescribing health care professional.

EXPERIMENTAL

Abbreviations: The following abbreviations may be used herein:

ACN or MeCN Acetonitrile AcOH acetic acid aq or aq. Aqueous BOC or Boc tert-butyloxycarbonyl DCE 1,2-dichloroethane DCM Dichloromethane DMAP 4-dimethylaminopyridine DMF N,N-dimethylformamide DMSO dimethyl sulfoxide Dppf, DPPF or dppf 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene eq or eq. or equiv. Equivalent ESI or ES electrospray ionization Et Ethyl Et₂O diethyl ether EtOH Ethyl alcohol EtOAc ethyl acetate g Grams h Hour HPLC high pressure liquid chromatography iPr Isopropyl iPr₂NEt or DIPEA N-ethyl diisopropylamine (Hünig's base) KOAc potassium acetate LDA lithium diisopropylamide LC MS, LCMS, liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy LC-MS or LC/MS LG leaving group (e.g., halogen, mesylate, triflate) m/z mass divided by charge Me Methyl MeOH Methanol Met Metal species for cross-coupling (e.g., MgX, ZnX, SnR₃, SiR₃, B(OR)₂) mg Milligrams min Minutes mL Milliliters MS mass spectra MsCl methanesulfonyl chloride MTBE tert-butyl methyl ether NMP 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidine n-BuLi n-butyllithium NMR nuclear magnetic resonance Pd₂(dba)₃ tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0) Pd(dppf)Cl₂ · DCM [1,1′-Bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]dichloropalladiumII, complex with dichloromethane Pd(PPh₃)₄ tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) Ph Phenyl Phen 1,10-phenanthroline PR or PG or Prot. group protecting group rbf round-bottom flask RP-HPLC reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography RT or rt room temperature sat. or satd. Saturated SFC supercritical fluid chromatography SPhos Pd G3 or (2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2',6'-dimethoxybiphenyl) [2-(2'- SPhos G3 amino-1,1′-biphenyl)]palladium(II) methane sulfonate TBAF tetra-n-butylammonium fluoride t-BuOH tert-butanol TEA or Et₃N Trimethylamine TFA trifluoroacetic acid THF Tetrahydrofuran TLC thin layer chromatography T₃P 2,4,6-tripropyl-1,3,5,2,4,6-trioxatriphosphinane 2,4,6-trioxide UV Ultraviolet Xantphos 4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-9,9-dimethylxanthene XtalFluor-M difluoro(morpholino)sulfonium tetrafluoroborate

Unless otherwise noted, all materials were obtained from commercial suppliers and used without further purification. All parts are by weight and temperatures are in degrees centigrade unless otherwise indicated. All microwave assisted reactions were conducted with a Smith Synthesizer™ from Biotager™. All compounds showed NMR spectra consistent with their assigned structures. Melting points were determined on a Buchi apparatus and are uncorrected. Mass spectral data was determined by electrospray ionization technique. All examples were purified to >90% purity as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Unless otherwise stated, reactions were run at room temperature.

In synthesizing compounds of the present invention, it may be desirable to use certain leaving groups. The term “leaving groups” (“LG”) generally refer to groups that are displaceable by a nucleophile. Such leaving groups are known in the art. Examples of leaving groups include, but are not limited to, halides (e.g., I, Br, F, Cl), sulfonates (e.g., mesylate, tosylate), sulfides (e.g., SCH₃), N-hydroxysuccinimide, N-hydroxybenzotriazole, and the like. Examples of nucleophiles include, but are not limited to, amines, thiols, alcohols, Grignard reagents, anionic species (e.g., alkoxides, amides, carbanions) and the like.

The examples presented below illustrate specific embodiments of the present invention. These examples are meant to be representative and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims in any manner.

It is noted that when a percent (%) is used with regard to a liquid, it is a percent by volume with respect to the solution. When used with a solid, it is the percent with regard to the solid composition. Materials obtained from commercial suppliers were typically used without further purification. Reactions involving air or moisture sensitive reagents were typically performed under a nitrogen or argon atmosphere. Purity was measured using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system with UV detection at 254 nm and 215 nm (System A: Agilent Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C8 4.6×150 mm, 5 μm, 5 to 100% CH₃CN in H₂O with 0.1% TFA for 15 min at 1.5 mL/min; System B: Zorbax SB-C8, 4.6×75 mm, 10 to 90% CH₃CN in H₂O with 0.1% formic acid for 12 min at 1.0 mL/min) (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, Calif.). Silica gel chromatography was generally performed with prepacked silica gel cartridges (Biotage, Uppsala, Sweden or Teledyne-Isco, Lincoln, Nebr.). ¹H NMR spectra were recorded on a Bruker AV-400 (400 MHz) spectrometer (Bruker Corporation, Madison, Wis.) or a Varian (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, Calif.) 400 MHz spectrometer at ambient temperature. All observed protons are reported as parts per million (ppm) downfield from tetramethylsilane (TMS) or other internal reference in the appropriate solvent indicated. Data are reported as follows: chemical shift, multiplicity (s=singlet, d=doublet, t=triplet, q=quartet, br=broad, m=multiplet), coupling constants, and number of protons. Low-resolution mass spectral (MS) data were determined on an Agilent 1100 Series (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, Calif.) LC/MS with UV detection at 254 nm and 215 nm and a low resonance electrospray mode (ESI).

Unless otherwise stated, starting materials and reagents used in preparing these compounds are either available from commercial suppliers such as Aldrich Chemical Co., (Milwaukee, Wis.), Bachem (Torrance, Calif.), or Sigma (St. Louis, Mo.) or are prepared by methods known to those skilled in the art following procedures set forth in references such as Fieser and Fieser's Reagents for Organic Synthesis, Volumes 1-17 (John Wiley and Sons, 1991); Rodd's Chemistry of Carbon Compounds, Volumes 1-5 and Supplementals (Elsevier Science Publishers, 1989); Organic Reactions, Volumes 1-40 (John Wiley and Sons, 1991), March's Advanced Organic Chemistry, (John Wiley and Sons, 4th Edition) and Larock's Comprehensive Organic Transformations (VCH Publishers Inc., 1989). These schemes are merely illustrative of some methods by which the compounds of this invention can be synthesized, and various modifications to these schemes can be made and will be suggested to one skilled in the art having referred to this disclosure. The starting materials and the intermediates, and the final products of the reaction may be isolated and purified if desired using conventional techniques, including but not limited to filtration, distillation, crystallization, chromatography and the like. Such materials may be characterized using conventional means, including physical constants and spectral data.

General Synthetic Scheme

Unless specified to the contrary, the reactions described herein take place at atmospheric pressure over a temperature range from about −78° C. to about 150° C., more preferably from about 0° C. to about 125° C. and most preferably at about room (or ambient) temperature, e.g., about 20° C.

For the purpose of clarity in this general synthesis section, Compounds of Formula (I) can be schematically drawn to contain Ring Ar¹ and Ring Ar² as follows:

wherein the group L is a linker as defined in the summary of the inventions, Ring Ar¹ is located to the left of the linker, and ring Ar² is located to the right of linker.

Generally, compounds of Formula (I), can be synthesized via three general steps as follows:

Step 1: Preparation of Ring Ar¹ compound.

Step 2: Preparation of Ring Ar² compound.

Step 3: Coupling of Ring Ar¹ compound to Ring Ar² compound.

The generic Schemes A-B below are meant to provide guidance to the ordinarily skilled synthetic chemist, who will readily appreciate that the solvent, concentration, reagent, protecting group, order of synthetic steps, time, temperature, and the like can be modified as necessary, well within the skill and judgment of the ordinarily skilled artisan.

In one embodiment, a compound of formula (I) having a general formula (I-A):

can be synthesized according to Scheme A.

Step A-1a: Preparation of Ring Ar¹ compound:

In step A-1a, Compound A-1, wherein W¹ is a halogen, for example fluoro or chloro, can be reacted with an R² group containing agent in the presence of a suitable base, in a suitable organic solvent such as NMP, dioxane, acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran, DMF, methylene chloride, and the like, to form compound A-2. Compound A-1 is commercially available or can be synthesized by known methods by those skilled in the art. Examples of compound A-1 include, but are not limited to, 2-chloropyrimidin-4-amine, 2-chloro-6-methylpyrimidin-4-amine, 2-fluoro-6-methylpyridin-4-amine, 2-chloropyridin-4-amine, 2-chloro-6-methylpyridin-4-amine, 2-chloro-6-ethylpyrimidin-4-amine, or 2-chloro-6-cyclopropylpyrimidin-4-amine. Examples of R² reagents include, but not limited to (1) (R)-2-methylmorpholine, (2) 4,4-difluoropiperidine hydrochloride, (3) 3,3-difluoroazetidine hydrochloride, or (4) 3,3,3-trifluoropropan-1-ol. Examples of bases include, but are not limited to diisopropylethyl amine, potassium carbonate, or sodium hydride.

Step A-1b: Preparation of Ring Ar¹ Compound:

Alternatively, in step A-1b, compound A-1 as defined in step 1a, can be converted to compound A-2, as defined in step 1a, via Suzuki via Suzuki cross coupling reaction with a suitable organoboron R² reagent (R²—BY₂, wherein Y is an organic functional group) such as 2-(4,4-difluorocyclohex-1-en-1-yl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolane or 2-(4-fluorocyclopent-1-en-1-yl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolane, and a suitable palladium catalyst and a base, such as PdCl₂(dppf)-DCM adduct and potassium phosphate tribasic. This step is followed by a reduction with a suitable palladium catalyst and a hydrogen source, such as Pd/C in the presence of hydrogen gas, to form compound A-2. This alternative Suzuki reaction can be used when the group R² is linked to the Ar¹ ring via a carbon-carbon bond.

Step A-2a: Preparation of Ring Ar² Compound:

In Step A-2a, Compound A-3, wherein each of W² and W³ is independently a halogen, for example fluoro, chloro, bromo, or iodo, can be reacted with an R^(x) reagent, such as (1) 6-azaspiro[2.5]octane hydrochloride, (2) 4,4-dimethylpiperidine hydrochloride, (3) 3,4,4-trimethylpiperidine hydrochloride, (4) 4-methyl-6-azaspiro[2.5]octane hydrochloride, or (5) 7-azaspiro[3.5]nonane hydrochloride, in a suitable organic solvent such as NMP, acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran, DMF, methylene chloride, DMSO, and the like, to form Compound A-4.

Step A-3a: Coupling of Ring Ar¹ Compound to Ring Ar² Compound Followed by Introduction of R¹:

In Step A-3a, compound A-4, which was obtained from Step A-2a, can be reacted with an activating agent such as acid chloride (COCl)₂ or SOCl₂, in a suitable organic solvent such as tetrahydrofuran, methylene chloride, and the like, to form an acid chloride derivative, which can then react with compound A-2 to form compound A-5. Alternatively, compound A-2 can be directly coupled with compound A-4, which was obtained from Step A-2a, in a suitable organic solvent such as acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran, DMF, methylene chloride, and the like, in the presence of a coupling reagent, such as N, N′-diisopropylcarbodiimide, N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide, benzotriazol-1-yl-oxytripyrrolidinophosphonium hexafluorophosphate, O-(benzotriazol-1-yl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate, carbonyl diimidazole, and polyphosphonic anhydride. Those ordinary skilled synthetic chemists will readily understand that other coupling agents can be used. Further manipulation of halogen group W³ by transformation reactions such as, metal-catalyzed sulfonamidation, sulfination, or sulfonylation, in a suitable organic solvent such as DMSO, acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran, DMF, and the like, in the presence of a metal catalyst and an R¹ reagent, such as (1) 1-methylcyclopropane-1-sulfonamide, (2) 3-methyloxetan-3-amine, (3) tert-butyl 3-mercaptoazetidine-1-carboxylate, (4) ethyl 2-sulfamoylpropanoate, (5) 2-hydroxypropane-1-sulfonamide, (6) 2-hydroxyethane-1-sulfonamide, (7) ethyl iodoacetate, (8) 2-mercaptopropan-1-ol, (9) 2-mercapto-2-methylpropan-1-ol, (10) 2-aminoethan-1-ol, or (11) cyclopropanethiol can be used to form Compound (I). Those ordinary skilled chemists will readily understand that coupling reaction such as shown in Step 3a can be performed under various known conditions.

In another embodiment, a compound of formula (I) having a general formula (I-B):

as defined herein can be synthesized according to Scheme B.

Step B-1a: Preparation of Ring Ar¹ Compound:

In step B-1a, compound B-1, wherein W⁴ is a halogen, for example fluoro or chloro, can be reacted with an R² reagent in the presence of a suitable base, in a suitable organic solvent such as NMP, dioxane, acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran, DMF, methylene chloride, and the like, to form compound B-2. Examples of compound B-1 include, but are not limited to, (1) 2-fluoroisonicotinic acid, (2) 2-fluoro-6-methylisonicotinic acid, (3) 2-chloropyrimidine-4-carboxylic acid, or (4) 2-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine-4-carboxylic acid. Examples of R² reagents include, but not limited to (1) (R)-2-methylmorpholine, (2) 4,4-difluoropiperidine hydrochloride, or (3) 3,3-difluoroazetidine hydrochloride. Examples of bases include, but are not limited to diisopropylethyl amine, potassium carbonate.

Step-B-2a: Preparation of Ring Ar² Compound:

In step B-2a, compound B-3, wherein each of W⁵ and W⁶ is independently a halogen, for example fluoro, chloro, bromo, or iodo, can be reacted with an R^(x) reagent, such as (1) 6-azaspiro[2.5]octane hydrochloride, (2) 4,4-dimethylpiperidine hydrochloride, (3) 3,4,4-trimethylpiperidine hydrochloride, (4) 4-methyl-6-azaspiro[2.5]octane hydrochloride, or (5) 7-azaspiro[3.5]nonane hydrochloride, in a suitable organic solvent such as NMP, acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran, DMF, methylene chloride, DMSO, and the like, to form compound B-4. Examples of compound B-3 include, but are not limited to, (1) 4-bromo-2-fluoro-1-nitrobenzene, (2) 4-iodo-2-fluoro-1-nitrobenzene, or (3) 6-bromo-2-fluoro-3-nitropyridine. The nitro group on compound B-4 can then be converted into an amino group by reacting with a reducing agent, which includes but is not limited to palladium on carbon, and a hydrogen source such as hydrogen gas to form compound B-5.

Step B-3a: Coupling of Ring Ar¹ Compound to Ring Ar² Compound:

In step B-3a, compound B-2, which was obtained from Step B-1a, can be reacted with compound B-5, which was obtained from Step B-2a, in a suitable organic solvent such as acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran, DMF, methylene chloride, and the like, in the presence of a coupling agent, such as N, N′-diisopropylcarbodiimide, N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide, benzotriazol-1-yl-oxytripyrrolidinophosphonium hexafluorophosphate, O-(benzotriazol-1-yl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate, carbonyl diimidazole, or polyphosphonic anhydride to form compound B-6. Those skilled in the art will readily understand that other coupling agents can be used. Further manipulation of halogen group W⁶ by transformation reactions such as, SNAr, metal-catalyzed sulfonamidation, sulfination, or sulfonylation, in a suitable organic solvent such as DMSO, acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran, DMF, and the like, in the presence of a metal catalyst and an R¹ reagent, such as (1) oxetane 3-amine, (2) 2-amino-2-methylpropan-1-ol, (3) (3-aminooxetan-3-yl)methanol, (4) ethyl 2-sulfamoylpropanoate, (5) 2-hydroxypropane-1-sulfonamide, (6) 2-hydroxyethane-1-sulfonamide, (7) 2-mercaptopropan-1-ol, (8) 2-mercapto-2-methylpropan-1-ol, (9) 2-aminoethan-1-ol, or (10) cyclopropanethiol can then be performed to form compound (I-B). Those skilled in the art will readily understand that coupling reaction such as shown in Step B-3a can be performed under various known conditions

It will be recognized by a person skilled in the art that the above transformations could also be carried out at earlier stages in the synthetic process based on feasibility of the transformations.

Examples Preparation of Ring Ar¹ Intermediates Intermediate 1 (R)-6-Methyl-2-(2-methylmorpholino)pyrimidin-4-amine

A mixture of 2-chloro-6-methylpyrimidin-4-amine (30.0 g, 209 mmol, Combi-Blocks, San Diego, Calif.), (R)-2-methylmorpholine (40.3 g, 293 mmol, Wuxi AppTec, China), and DIPEA (109 mL, 627 mmol) was taken in an autoclave (600 mL) and heated at 150° C. for 12 h. The reaction mixture was quenched with water (500 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×1500 mL). The organic layer was washed with brine (500 mL), dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered, and concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude material was purified by column chromatography over silica gel using 50% ethyl acetate in hexanes as an eluent to give the title compound (25.0 g, 57% yield) as a yellow solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ ppm 6.28 (s, 2H), 5.62 (s, 1H), 4.45-4.31 (m, 2H), 3.83 (ddd, J=11.4, 3.5, 1.3 Hz, 1H), 3.42 (ddt, J=14.4, 9.7, 2.8 Hz, 2H), 2.78-2.70 (m, 1H), 2.43 (dd, J=13.0, 10.3 Hz, 1H), 2.05 (s, 3H), 1.11 (d, J=6.2 Hz, 3H). m/z (ESI): 209.2 (M+H)⁺.

Intermediate 2 2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-amine

A mixture of 2-chloro-6-methylpyrimidin-4-amine (46 g, 320 mmol, Combi-Blocks, San Diego, Calif.), 4,4-difluoropiperidine hydrochloride (76 g, 480 mmol, Combi-Blocks, San Diego, Calif.) and DIPEA (166 mL, 961 mmol) in NMP (460 mL) was taken in an autoclave and heated at 180° C. for 30 h. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, quenched with water (500 mL), and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×1000 mL). The organic layer was washed with brine (500 mL), dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered, and concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude material was adsorbed onto a plug of silica gel and purified by column chromatography over silica gel (60-120 mesh), eluting with 50% to 100% ethyl acetate in hexanes to give the target compound, which was re-dissolved in ethyl acetate (500 mL), and washed with water (2×500 mL). The organic layer was taken, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered, and concentrated under reduced pressure. The yellow solid obtained was once again suspended in hexanes (400 mL) and stirred for 30 min. The slurry was filtered, washed with hexanes (100 mL), and dried under vacuum to provide the title compound (58 g, 79% yield) as a pale-yellow solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 6.33 (s, 2H), 5.63 (s, 1H), 3.80-3.78 (dd, J=6.8, 4.7 Hz, 4H), 2.06 (s, 3H), 1.95-1.85 (tt, J=14.2, 5.7 Hz, 4H). m/z (ESI): 229.2 (M+H)⁺.

Intermediate 3 2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)isonicotinic acid

A mixture of 2-fluoro-4-pyridinecarboxylic acid (0.90 g, 6.4 mmol, Matrix Scientific), 4,4-difluoropiperidine hydrochloride (1.106 g, 7.02 mmol, Matrix Scientific) and DIPEA (3.34 mL, 19.14 mmol, Sigma-Aldrich Corporation) in 5 mL of NMP was heated in a microwave at 125° C. for 4 h. The mixture was loaded on a silica gel column and eluted with 10% to 100% EtOAc in heptane to give a material that contained both 2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)isonicotinic acid and NMP. The material was stirred in 10 mL of heptane. The insoluble solid was collected and dried to give 2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)isonicotinic acid (1.40 g, 5.80 mmol, 91% yield) as a brown solid. m/z (ESI): 243.1 (M+H)⁺.

Preparation of Ring Ar² Intermediates Intermediate 4 6-Fluoro-2-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinic acid

To a solution of 2,6-difluoronicotinic acid (6.0 g, 38 mmol, Combi-Blocks) in ACN (120 mL) was added DIPEA (7.80 mL, 45.3 mmol) and 6-azaspiro[2.5]octane (4.61 g, 41.5 mmol, Wuxi AppTec, China) and the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 48 h. Then, the reaction mixture was concentrated, diluted with water and extracted with EtOAc. The organic layer was washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered, and concentrated. The crude mixture was purified by flash column chromatography using a gradient of 0-10% MeOH in DCM to afford 6-fluoro-2-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinic acid (6 g, 1.26 mmol, 76% yield) as a white solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ ppm 12.94 (s, 1H), 8.07 (t, J=8.4, 8.4 Hz, 1H), 6.41 (dd, J=8.2, 3.3 Hz, 1H), 3.36-3.43 (m, 4H), 1.37-1.44 (m, 4H), 0.34 (s, 4H). m/z (ESI): 251.1 (M+H)+

TABLE 1 Intermediates 4-1 to 4-5 were prepared following similar procedure for Intermediate 4: Int. # Chemical Structure Name LRMS: (ESI + ve ion) m/z 4-1

6-Chloro-4-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6- yl)nicotinic acid 267.1 4-2

2-Bromo-5-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6- yl)isonicotinic acid 310.6/312.6 4-3

5-Bromo-3-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6- yl)picolinic acid 311.0/313.0 4-4

2-Chloro-4-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6- yl)pyrimidine-5-carboxylic acid 268.1 4-5

5-Chloro-3-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6- yl)pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid 268.1

Intermediate 5 4-Bromo-2-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)aniline

Step 1: A mixture of 4-bromo-2-fluoro-1-nitrobenzene (3.17 g, 14.4 mmol, Combi-Blocks), 6-azaspiro[2.5]octane hydrochloride (2.447 g, 16.57 mmol, AstaTech) and potassium carbonate (5.97 g, 43.2 mmol, Sigma-Aldrich Corporation) in DMSO (12 mL) was heated in an oil bath at 60° C. for 10 min then heated to 90° C. for 1 h. The mixture was cooled to RT, treated with 20 mL of water and extracted with of EtOAc (2×50 mL). The combined organic extracts were washed with water (2×5 mL), dried (Na₂SO₄), and the solvent was removed under vacuum. The residue was purified on a silica gel column (15% to 45% EtOAc in heptane) to give 6-(5-bromo-2-nitrophenyl)-6-azaspiro[2.5]octane (4.26 g, 13.7 mmol, 95% yield) as an orange solid. m/z (ESI): 311.0/313.0 (M+H)⁺.

Step 2: To a mixture of 6-(5-bromo-2-nitrophenyl)-6-azaspiro[2.5]octane (2.91 g, 9.35 mmol) and ammonium chloride (1.50 g, 28.1 mmol, Sigma-Aldrich Corporation) in EtOH (16 mL) and water (4 mL) was added iron powder (3.13 g, 56.1 mmol, Sigma-Aldrich Corporation). The heterogeneous mixture was heated in an oil bath at 85° C. for 2 h. The dark mixture was diluted with 50 mL of MeOH and filtered through a pad of CELITE®. The filter cake was rinsed with 2×5 mL of MeOH and the filtrate was concentrated under vacuum. The residue was partitioned between 10 mL of water and 75 mL of EtOAc. The organic layer was taken, dried over Na₂SO₄, and concentrated to afford 4-bromo-2-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)aniline (2.23 g, 7.95 mmol, 85% yield) as a brown oil. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, METHANOL-d₄) δ 6.87 (d, J=2.28 Hz, 1H), 6.77 (dd, J=2.18, 8.40 Hz, 1H), 6.48 (d, J=8.50 Hz, 1H), 4.65 (s, 4H), 1.23-1.50 (br s, 4H), 0.18 (s, 4H). m/z (ESI): 281.0/283.0 (M+H)⁺.

Coupling Ar¹ and Ar² Intermediate 6 (R)-6-Fluoro-N-(6-methyl-2-(2-methylmorpholino)pyrimidin-4-yl)-2-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide

To a solution of 6-fluoro-2-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinic acid (0.70 g, 2.8 mmol, Int. 4) in dichloromethane (10 mL) were added oxalyl chloride (0.362 mL, 4.20 mmol) and DMF (1 drop). The reaction mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 1 h before it was concentrated under N₂ atmosphere to afford 6-fluoro-2-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinoyl chloride which was immediately taken to the next step without further purification. To a solution of 6-fluoro-2-(6 azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinoyl chloride in dichloromethane (5 mL) was added a solution of (R)-6-methyl-2-(2-methylmorpholino)pyrimidin-4-amine (0.583 g, 2.80 mmol, Int. 1) and DIPEA (0.489 mL, 2.80 mmol) in dichloromethane (5 mL) under nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction mixture was stirred at 100° C. for 16 h before it was quenched with water and was extracted with EtOAc. The organic layer was washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated. The concentrate was purified by flash column chromatography using a gradient of 10% to 15% EtOAc/petroleum ether to provide the title compound (0.12 g, 0.27 mmol, 10% yield) as yellowish sticky solid. m/z (ESI): 441.2 (M+H)⁺.

TABLE 2 Intermediate 6-1 was prepared following a similar procedure as described for Intermediate 6: Int. # Chemical Structure Name LRMS: (ESI + ve ion) m/z 6-1

N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin- 1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4- yl)-6-fluoro-2-(6- azaspiro[2.5]octan-6- yl)nicotinamide 461.2

Intermediate 7 6-Chloro-N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-4-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide

Step 1: 4,6-Dichloronicotinic acid (1.48 g, 7.71 mmol, Ochem Incorporation), 2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-amine (2.16 g, 9.46 mmol, Int. 2), 1,3,5,2,4,6-trioxatriphosphorinane, 2,4,6-tripropyl-2,4,6-trioxide (14.72 g, 23.13 mmol, Sigma-Aldrich Corporation) in DCE (20 mL) and DMF (8 mL) were heated at 100° C. for 4.5 h. After cooling to RT, the mixture was stirred with 80 mL of ethyl acetate and 50 mL of brine. The organic layer was separated, dried (Na₂SO₄), and the solvent removed under vacuum. The residue was adsorbed onto a plug of silica gel and purified by silica gel chromatography using 0-20% of EtOAc in heptane to give 4,6-dichloro-N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)nicotinamide as a white solid. m/z (ESI): 402.0 (M+H)⁺.

Step 2: 4,6-Dichloro-N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)nicotinamide (1.60 g, 3.98 mmol), 6-azaspiro[2.5]octane (0.54 g, 4.9 mmol, Wuxi AppTec, China), and potassium carbonate (1.0 g, 7.24 mmol, Sigma-Aldrich Corporation) in 20 mL NMP were heated at 40° C. for 2 h, then cooled to RT and stirred for an additional 5 h. The mixture was partitioned between ethyl acetate (60 mL) and brine/water (20 mL). The organic layer was separated, washed with brine, dried, and the solvent was removed under vacuum. The residue was adsorbed onto a plug of silica gel and purified by silica gel chromatography using 0-20% of EtOAc in heptane to give 6-chloro-N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-4-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide. m/z (ESI): 477.2 (M+H)⁺.

TABLE 3 Intermediates 7-1 to 7-5 were prepared following similar procedures for Int. 6 and 7: Int. # Chemical Structure Name LRMS: (ESI + ve ion) m/z 7-1

2-Bromo-N-(2-(4,4- difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6- methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-5-(6- azaspiro[2.5]octan-6- yl)isonicotinamide 521.2/523.2 7-2

5-Bromo-N-(2-(4,4- difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6- methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-3-(6- azaspiro[2.5]octan-6- yl)picolinamide 521.2/523.2 7-3

3,5-Dichloro-N-(2-(4,4- difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6- methylpyrimidin-4- yl)pyrazine-2-carboxamide 403.0 7-4

5-Chloro-N-(2-(4,4- difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6- methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-3-(6- azaspiro[2.5]octan-6- yl)pyrazine-2-carboxamide 478.1 7-5

N-(4-Bromo-2-(6- azaspiro[2.5]octan-6- yl)phenyl)-2-(4,4- difluoropiperidin-1- yl)isonicotinamide 505.2/507.2

Intermediate 8 2-Chloro-N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-4-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)pyrimidine-5-carboxamide

Step 1: To a solution of 2-chloro-4-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)pyrimidine-5-carboxylic acid (1.5 g, 5.6 mmol, Int. 4-4) in THF (15 mL) were added oxalyl chloride (2.45 mL, 28.0 mmol) and DMF (1 drop) under nitrogen atmosphere and the reaction mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 2 h before it was concentrated. The crude material was dissolved in DCM (15 mL) and 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenol (1.55 g, 8.40 mmol) and DIPEA (1.96 mL, 11.21 mmol) at 0° C. were added. The resulting mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 2 h before it was quenched with water and extracted with CH₂Cl₂. The organic layer was washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered, and concentrated to provide perfluorophenyl 2-chloro-4-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)pyrimidine-5-carboxylate as light-yellow solid which was taken to the next step without purification. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, Chloroform-d): 6 ppm 8.84 (s, 1H), 3.72 (d, J=5.8 Hz, 4H), 1.39 (d, J=6.7 Hz, 4H), 0.45 (d, J=1.9 Hz, 4H). m/z (ESI): 434.0 (M+H)⁺.

Step 2: To a solution of 2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-amine (1.89 g, 8.30 mmol, Int. 2) in DMF (25 mL) was added sodium hydride (0.415 g, 10.4 mmol) at 0° C. After 30 min, a solution of perfluorophenyl 2-chloro-4-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)pyrimidine-5-carboxylate (3.0 g, 6.9 mmol) in DMF (5 mL) was added to the reaction mixture. Then the reaction mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 2 h before it was quenched with a solution saturated NH₄Cl and extracted with EtOAc. The organic layer was washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated. The concentrate was purified by flash column chromatography using a gradient of 30% to 35% ethyl acetate in petroleum ether to provide 2-chloro-N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-4-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)pyrimidine-5-carboxamide (0.70 g, 1.46 mmol, 21% yield) as light-yellow solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ ppm 10.99 (s, 1H), 8.22 (s, 1H), 7.21 (s, 1H), 3.86 (s, 4H), 3.57 (t, J=5.5 Hz, 4H), 2.30 (s, 3H), 1.97 (s, 4H), 1.40 (dd, J=6.6, 4.2 Hz, 4H), 0.34 (s, 4H). m/z (ESI): 478.1 (M+H)⁺.

Intermediate 9 5-Amino-N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-3-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)pyrazine-2-carboxamide

Step 1: To a solution of 3,5-dichloro-N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)pyrazine-2-carboxamide (400 mg, 0.992 mmol, Int. 7-3) in ethanol (5 mL) were added DIPEA (347 μL, 1.98 mmol) and (4-methoxyphenyl)methanamine (136 mg, 0.992 mmol) at room temperature. Then the reaction mixture was heated to 80° C. for 2 h before it was quenched with ice-water and extracted with dichloromethane. The organic layers were washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated. The concentrate was purified by flash column chromatography using a gradient of 0-30% ethyl acetate in petroleum ether to give 3-chloro-N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-5-((4-methoxybenzyl)amino)pyrazine-2-carboxamide (250 mg, 0.496 mmol, 50.0% yield) as pale yellow solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ ppm 10.00 (s, 1H), 8.77 (t, J=5.7 Hz, 1H), 7.99 (d, J=1.1 Hz, 1H), 7.27-7.36 (m, 3H), 6.89-6.97 (m, 2H), 4.48 (d, J=5.7 Hz, 2H), 3.83-3.90 (m, 4H), 3.74 (d, J=1.1 Hz, 3H), 2.32 (s, 3H), 1.90-2.03 (m, 4H). m/z (ESI): 504.2 (M+H)⁺.

Step 2: A solution of 3-chloro-N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-5-((4-methoxybenzyl)amino)pyrazine-2-carboxamide (230 mg, 0.456 mmol), 6-azaspiro[2.5]octane (76 mg, 0.68 mmol, Wuxi AppTec) and DIPEA (118 mg, 0.913 mmol) in dimethyl sulfoxide (3 mL) was heated at 60° C. for 4 h. Then the reaction mixture was quenched with water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated. The concentrate was purified by flash column chromatography using a gradient of 0-20% ethyl acetate in petroleum ether to give N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-5-((4-methoxybenzyl)amino)-3-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)pyrazine-2-carboxamide (190 mg, 0.33 mmol, 72% yield) as pale yellow solid. ¹H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ ppm 9.99 (s, 1H), 8.33 (br s, 1H), 7.44 (s, 1H), δ 7.34 (s, 1H), δ 7.20-7.32 (m, 2H), 6.86 (d, J=8.3 Hz, 2H), 3.95-3.88 (m, 4H), 3.86 (s, 3H), 3.45-3.32 (m, 4H), 2.28 (s, 3H), 2.01-1.81 (m, 4H), 1.45-1.35 (m, 4H), 0.33 (s, 4H). m/z (ESI): 579.3 (M+H)⁺.

Step 3: To a solution of N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-5-((4-methoxybenzyl)amino)-3-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)pyrazine-2-carboxamide (150 mg, 0.259 mmol) in TFA (2.0 mL, 26 mmol) was added anisole (0.028 mL, 0.26 mmol) and the reaction mixture was heated at 60° C. for 5 h. Then, the reaction mixture was concentrated, and the concentrate was diluted with EtOAc/H₂O. The organic layer was separated and washed with a saturated aqueous solution of sodium bicarbonate, water, brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered, and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography using 40% ethyl acetate in petroleum ether to give 5-amino-N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-3-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)pyrazine-2-carboxamide (95 mg, 0.207 mmol, 80% yield) as pale yellow solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ ppm 10.10 (s, 1H), 7.39 (s, 1H), 7.35 (s, 1H), 7.06 (br s, 2H), 3.92-3.83 (m, 4H), 3.44-3.36 (m, 4H), 2.29 (s, 3H), 2.04-1.90 (m, 4H), 1.49-1.42 (m, 4H), 0.34 (s, 4H). m/z (ESI): 459.2 (M+H)⁺.

Example 1 N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-6-((2-hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-2-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide

To a solution of N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-6-fluoro-2-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide (100 mg, 0.217 mmol, Int. 6-1) in DMSO (5 mL) were added cesium carbonate (142 mg, 0.434 mmol) and 2-hydroxyethane-1-sulfonamide (40.8 mg, 0.326 mmol, Wuxi AppTec) and the reaction mixture was stirred at 120° C. for 16 h before it was quenched with water and extracted with EtOAc. The organic layer was washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated. The concentrate was purified by flash column chromatography using a gradient of 30% to 40% EtOAc in petroleum ether. The material thus obtained was further triturated with a mixture of diethyl ether and petroleum ether to furnish N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-6-((2-hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-2-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide (36.5 mg, 0.065 mmol, 30% yield) as off-white solid. ¹H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ ppm 11.92 (s, 1H), 10.94 (s, 1H), 8.14 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 1H), 7.34 (s, 1H), 6.67 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 1H), 4.95 (s, 1H), 3.61-4.07 (m, 8H), 3.17 (m, 4H), 2.32 (s, 3H), 1.99 (m, 4H), 1.63 (m, 4H), 0.35 (s, 4H). m/z (ESI): 566.1 (M+H)⁺.

TABLE 4 Example 1-1 was prepared following a similar procedure as described in Example 1: LRMS: (ESI + Ex. # Chemical Structure Name ve ion) m/z 1-1

(R)-6-((2-Hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-N-(6- methyl-2-(2-methylmorpholino)pyrimidin- 4-yl)-2-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6- yl)nicotinamide 546.9

Example 2 (R)—N-(6-methyl-2-(2-methylmorpholino)pyrimidin-4-yl)-6-(oxetan-3-ylamino)-2-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide

To a solution of (R)-6-fluoro-N-(6-methyl-2-(2-methylmorpholino)pyrimidin-4-yl)-2-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide (0.150 g, 0.341 mmol, Int. 6) in DMSO (3 mL) were added oxetan-3-amine (0.037 g, 0.51 mmol) and DIPEA (0.178 mL, 1.02 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at 100° C. for 16 h before it was quenched with water and extracted with EtOAc. The organic layer was washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered, and concentrated. The concentrate was purified by flash column chromatography using a gradient of 30% to 45% EtOAc in petroleum ether to provide (R)—N-(6-methyl-2-(2-methylmorpholino)pyrimidin-4-yl)-6-(oxetan-3-ylamino)-2-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide (0.100 g, 0.203 mmol, 59.5% yield) as off-white solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ ppm 12.51 (s, 1H), 7.97-8.10 (m, 2H), 7.34 (d, J=3.0 Hz, 1H), 6.39 (dd, J=8.9, 2.9 Hz, 1H), 4.95 (br s, 1H), 4.82 (td, J=6.8, 2.9 Hz, 2H), 4.39-4.54 (m, 4H), 3.88 (d, J=11.4 Hz, 1H), 3.49 (ddt, J=12.0, 9.1, 4.2 Hz, 2H), 3.05 (d, J=6.6 Hz, 4H), 2.91 (t, J=12.5 Hz, 1H), 2.60 (td, J=10.4, 5.2 Hz, 1H), 2.28 (d, J=3.0 Hz, 3H), 1.67 (s, 4H), 1.16 (dd, J=6.2, 2.9 Hz, 3H), 0.35 (d, J=3.0 Hz, 4H). m/z (ESI): 494.2 (M+H)⁺.

TABLE 5 Examples 2-1 to 2-8 were prepared following similar procedure for Example 2: LRMS: (ESI + ve Ex. # Chemical Structure Name ion) m/z 2-1

(R)-N-(6-Methyl-2-(2- methylmorpholino)pyrimidin-4-yl)- 6-((3-methyloxetan-3-yl)amino)-2- (6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6- yl)nicotinamide 508.3 2-2

(R)-6-((3-(Hydroxymethyl)oxetan- 3-yl)amino)-N-(6-methyl-2-(2- methylmorpholino)pyrimidin-4-yl)- 2-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6- yl)nicotinamide 524.3 2-3

N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)- 6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-6-((3- methyloxetan-3-yl)amino)-2-(6- azaspiro[2.5]octan-6- yl)nicotinamide 528.2 2-4

N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)- 6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-6-((3- (hydroxymethyl)oxetan-3- yl)amino)-2-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan- 6-yl)nicotinamide 544.2 2-5

(R)-6-((1-Hydroxy-2-methylpropan- 2-yl)amino)-N-(6-methyl-2-(2- methylmorpholino)pyrimidin-4-yl)- 2-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6- yl)nicotinamide 510.3 2-6

N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)- 6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-5-((1- hydroxy-2-methylpropan-2- yl)amino)-3-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan- 6-yl)picolinamide 530.2 2-7

N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)- 6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-2-((1- hydroxy-2-methylpropan-2- yl)amino)-4-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan- 6-yl)pyrimidine-5-carboxamide 531.3 2-8

N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)- 6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-5-((1- hydroxy-2-methylpropan-2- yl)amino)-3-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan- 6-yl)pyrazine-2-carboxamide 531.3

Example 3 6-(Cyclopropylsulfonyl)-N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-4-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide

6-Chloro-N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-4-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide (138 mg, 0.29 mmol, Int. 7) and sodium cyclopropanesulfinate (50 mg, 0.39 mmol, Accela ChemBio Inc.) in 2 mL NMP were heated in microwave at 140° C. for 35 min. Additional 0.095 g sodium cyclopropanesulfinate was added and the mixture was heated in microwave for 30 min 140° C. The mixture was adsorbed onto a plug of silica gel and purified by silica gel chromatography with 0-50% EtOAc in heptane to give 6-(cyclopropylsulfonyl)-N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-4-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide as a white solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CHLOROFORM-d) δ ppm 10.14-10.87 (m, 1H), 8.99-9.36 (m, 1H), 7.60-7.98 (m, 1H), 7.32-7.53 (m, 1H), 3.91-4.04 (m, 4H), 3.39-3.55 (m, 1H), 3.19-3.32 (m, 3H), 2.83-2.95 (m, 1H), 2.33-2.46 (m, 3H), 1.91-2.10 (m, 4H), 1.66-1.81 (m, 4H), 1.22-1.33 (m, 2H), 1.07-1.17 (m, 2H), 0.35-0.49 (m, 4H). m/z (ESI): 546.2 (M+H)⁺.

Examples 4-1 and 4-2 4-(6-Azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)-6-(S-cyclopropylsulfonimidoyl)-N-(2-(4,4-difluoro-1-piperidinyl)-6-methyl-4-pyrimidinyl)-3-pyridinecarboxamide (Example 4-1) and 4-(6-Azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)-6-(R-cyclopropylsulfonimidoyl)-N-(2-(4,4-difluoro-1-piperidinyl)-6-methyl-4-pyrimidinyl)-3-pyridinecarboxamide (Example 4-2)

Step 1: 6-Chloro-N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-4-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide (0.66 g, 1.38 mmol, Int. 7), 4,5-bis(diphenylphos-phino)-9,9-dimethyl-xanthene (0.080 g, 0.14 mmol, Sigma-Aldrich Corporation), tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium (0) chloroform adduct (0.14 g, 0.14 mmol, Strem Chemicals, Inc.) in 6 mL dioxane were flushed with N₂ for 5 min. Diisopropylethylamine (0.36 g, 2.77 mmol, Sigma-Aldrich Corporation) and cyclopropanethiol (0.13 g, 1.75 mmol, Enamine) were added and the mixture was heated in a sealed vial at 90° C. for 3.5 h. The mixture was adsorbed onto a plug of silica gel and purified by silica gel chromatography (0-20% of EtOAc in heptane) to give 6-(cyclopropylthio)-N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-4-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CHLOROFORM-d) δ ppm 10.95-11.58 (m, 1H), 8.97-9.19 (m, 1H), 7.45-7.49 (m, 1H), 7.14-7.17 (m, 1H), 3.95-4.03 (m, 4H), 3.10-3.18 (m, 4H), 2.37-2.41 (m, 3H), 2.30-2.36 (m, 1H), 1.93-2.08 (m, 4H), 1.69-1.80 (m, 4H), 1.16-1.23 (m, 2H), 0.74-0.80 (m, 2H), 0.39-0.45 (m, 4H). m/z (ESI): 514.4 (M+H)⁺.

Step 2: To ammonium carbonate (0.17 g, 1.75 mmol, Sigma-Aldrich Corporation) and 6-(cyclopropylthio)-N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-4-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide (0.6 g, 1.17 mmol) in 7 mL DCM and 3.5 mL MeOH were added (acetyloxy)(phenyl)-iodanyl acetate (0.86 g, 2.68 mmol, Sigma-Aldrich Corporation). The mixture was stirred at RT for 7 h. The mixture was stirred with 40 mL ethyl acetate and 25 mL brine for 5 min. The organic layer was separated, dried and evaporated. The mixture was adsorbed onto a plug of silica gel and purified by silica gel chromatography (0-80% of EtOAc in heptane) to give 6-(cyclopropanesulfonimidoyl)-N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-4-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide. The racemic mixture was chirally separated via preparative SFC using an Chiral tech AD (250×21 mm, 5 mm) with a mobile phase of 75% Liquid CO₂ and 25% EtOH with 0.2% TEA using a flowrate of 70 mL/min to give:

Example 4-1: 4-(6-Azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)-6-(S-cyclopropylsulfonimidoyl)-N-(2-(4,4-difluoro-1-piperidinyl)-6-methyl-4-pyrimidinyl)-3-pyridinecarboxamide. First eluting peak (107 mg, ee>99%); ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CHLOROFORM-d) δ ppm 10.66-10.84 (m, 1H), 9.12-9.23 (m, 1H), 7.77-7.90 (m, 1H), 7.34-7.50 (m, 1H), 3.92-4.05 (m, 4H), 3.19-3.28 (m, 4H), 2.81-3.00 (m, 2H), 2.36-2.44 (m, 3H), 1.92-2.08 (m, 4H), 1.68-1.79 (m, 4H), 1.41-1.48 (m, 1H), 1.18-1.22 (m, 2H), 0.96-1.07 (m, 1H), 0.39-0.47 (m, 4H). m/z (ESI): 546.2 (M+H)⁺.

Example 4-2: 4-(6-Azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)-6-(R-cyclopropylsulfonimidoyl)-N-(2-(4,4-difluoro-1-piperidinyl)-6-methyl-4-pyrimidinyl)-3-pyridinecarboxamide. Second eluting peak (106 mg, ee 99.3%); ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CHLOROFORM-d) δ ppm 10.63-10.92 (m, 1H), 9.01-9.31 (m, 1H), 7.76-7.98 (m, 1H), 7.38-7.47 (m, 1H), 3.90-4.03 (m, 4H), 3.15-3.31 (m, 4H), 2.82-2.97 (m, 2H), 2.33-2.44 (m, 3H), 1.92-2.08 (m, 4H), 1.69-1.77 (m, 4H), 1.38-1.47 (m, 1H), 1.11-1.18 (m, 2H), 0.97-1.05 (m, 1H), 0.36-0.50 (m, 4H). m/z (ESI): 546.2 (M+H)⁺.

The stereochemistry was arbitrarily assigned.

TABLE 6 Examples 5-1 and 5-2 were prepared following similar procedure for Examples 4-1 and 4-2: LRMS: (ESI + Ex. # Chemical Structure Name ve ion) m/z 5-1

3-(6-Azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)-5-(R- cyclopropylsulfonimidoyl)-N-(2-(4,4- difluoro-1-piperidinyl)-6-methyl-4- pyrimidinyl)-2-pyridinecarboxamide 546.2 5-2

3-(6-Azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)-5-(S- cyclopropylsulfonimidoyl)-N-(2-(4,4- difluoro-1-piperidinyl)-6-methyl-4- pyrimidinyl)-2-pyridinecarboxamide 546.2

Example 6 N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-5-((2-hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-3-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)picolinamide

Step 1: A solution of 5-bromo-N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-3-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)picolinamide (0.4 g, 0.77 mmol, Int. 7-2) in DMF (4 mL) was successively treated with (2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)methanamine (0.128 g, 0.77 mmol, Chempure), cesium carbonate (0.50 g, 1.53 mmol) followed by Xantphos (0.044 g, 0.077 mmol, Arbor) at rt and was purged with nitrogen gas. Then Pd₂(dba)₃ (0.070 g, 0.077 mmol, Hindustan Platinum) was added and the mixture was stirred in a microwave Initiator at 120° C. for 1 h. Then the reaction mixture was filtered through a plug of celite and filtrate was diluted with EtOAc. The resulting solution was washed with water, brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated. The concentrate was purified by flash column chromatography using a gradient of 40% to 60% ethyl acetate in petroleum ether to afford N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-5-((2,4-dimethoxybenzyl)amino)-3-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)picolinamide (0.225 g, 0.370 mmol, 48% yield) as yellow solid. ¹H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ ppm 12.11 (s, 1H), 7.85 (d, J=2.2 Hz, 1H), 7.38 (s, 1H), 7.20 (d, J=8.3 Hz, 1H), 7.07 (t, J=5.7 Hz, 1H), 6.80 (d, J=2.4 Hz, 1H), 6.60 (d, J=2.4 Hz, 1H), 6.50 (dd, J=8.3, 2.4 Hz, 1H), 4.25 (d, J=5.7 Hz, 2H), 3.88 (d, J=6.2 Hz, 3H), 3.84 (s, 3H), 3.75 (s, 3H), 2.97 (t, J=5.2 Hz, 4H), 2.30 (s, 4H), 1.86-2.09 (m, 4H), 1.63 (s, 4H), 0.36 (s, 4H). m/z (ESI): 608.3 (M+H)⁺.

Step 2: A solution of N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-5-((2,4-dimethoxybenzyl)amino)-3-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)picolinamide (0.220 g, 0.362 mmol) in chloroform (5 mL) was treated with DIPEA (0.252 mL, 1.81 mmol) followed by a solution of methyl 2-(chlorosulfonyl)acetate (0.219 g, 1.27 mmol, Combi-Blocks) in chloroform (0.5 mL). The reaction mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 16 h before it was quenched with water (15 mL) and was extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (2×10 mL). The organic layer was washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated. The concentrate was purified by flash column chromatography using a gradient of 30% to 40% EtOAc in petroleum ether to provide methyl 2-(N-(6-((2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)carbamoyl)-5-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)pyridin-3-yl)-N-(2,4-dimethoxybenzyl)sulfamoyl)acetate (0.140 g, 0.188 mmol, 52% yield) as light-yellow solid. ¹H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ ppm 11.49 (s, 1H), 8.17 (d, J=1.9 Hz, 1H), 7.65 (s, 1H), 7.32 (s, 1H), 7.16 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 1H), 6.46 (d, J=8.3 Hz, 2H), 4.88 (s, 2H), 4.58 (s, 2H), 3.87 (s, 3H), 3.71 (d, J=2.9 Hz, 6H), 3.67 (s, 3H), 3.03 (d, J=5.8 Hz, 4H), 2.32 (s, 4H), 1.98 (d, J=7.4 Hz, 4H), 1.53 (d, J=6.5 Hz, 4H), 0.35 (s, 4H). m/z (ESI): 744.3 (M+H)⁺.

Step 3: A mixture of methyl 2-(N-(6-((2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)carbamoyl)-5-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)pyridin-3-yl)-N-(2,4-dimethoxybenzyl)sulfamoyl)acetate (0.130 g, 0.175 mmol) and trifluoroacetic acid (2 mL, 26.0 mmol) was stirred at 60° C. for 4 h. The reaction mixture was concentrated, and the concentrate was dissolved in EtOAc (20 mL). The organic layer was washed with water and brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated. The concentrate was triturated with diethyl ether and pentane to provide methyl 2-(N-(6-((2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)carbamoyl)-5-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)pyridin-3-yl)sulfamoyl)acetate (0.1 g, 0.168 mmol, 96% yield) as light-yellow solid which was used for next step without purification. m/z (ESI): 594.2 (M+H)⁺.

Step 4: To a solution of methyl 2-(N-(6-((2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)carbamoyl)-5-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)pyridin-3-yl)sulfamoyl)acetate (0.1 g, 0.168 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (3 mL) was added lithium borohydride (0.084 mL, 0.168 mmol, 1.0 M solution in tetrahydrofuran, Aldrich) drop wise at −78° C. for 2 h. The reaction mixture was quenched with a saturated aqueous solution of NH₄Cl and was extracted with EtOAc (2×15 mL). The organic layer was washed with water, brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated. The concentrate was purified by flash column chromatography using a gradient of 50% to 70% EtOAc in petroleum ether to provide N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-5-((2-hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-3-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)picolinamide (0.035 g, 0.062 mmol, 37% yield) as off-white solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ ppm 11.53 (s, 1H), 10.40 (s, 1H), 8.19 (d, J=2.1 Hz, 1H), 7.50 (d, J=2.2 Hz, 1H), 7.36 (s, 1H), 4.97 (t, J=5.5 Hz, 1H), 3.89 (s, 4H), 3.78 (m, 2H), 3.42 (d, J=12.4 Hz, 2H), 3.05 (t, J=5.4 Hz, 4H), 2.32 (d, J=1.3 Hz, 3H), 1.96 (d, J=15.0 Hz, 4H), 1.59 (t, J=5.4 Hz, 4H), 0.36 (s, 4H). m/z (ESI): 566.2 (M+H)⁺.

Example 7 N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-6-((2-hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-4-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide

A mixture of 6-chloro-N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-4-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide (0.150 g, 0.314 mmol, Int. 7), 2-hydroxyethane-1-sulfonamide (0.059 g, 0.472 mmol, Wuxi AppTec), copper(I) iodide (0.060 g, 0.314 mmol), (1R,2R)—N1,N2-dimethylcyclohexane-1,2-diamine (0.022 g, 0.157 mmol) in DMF (1.5 mL) was heated at 105° C. for 16 h. Then the reaction was filtered through a plug of celite and the filtrate was diluted with EtOAc, washed with water, brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered, and concentrated. The concentrate was purified by flash column chromatography using a gradient of 1% to 40%, EtOAc in petroleum ether to provide N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-6-((2-hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-4-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide 2,2,2-trifluoroacetate as white solid which was further purified by preparative HPLC to obtain N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-6-((2-hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-4-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide 2,2,2-trifluoroacetate (0.060 g, 0.088 mmol, 28% yield) as off-white solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 11.18 (s, 1H), 8.31 (s, 1H), 7.32 (s, 1H), 6.72 (s, 1H), 3.90 (t, J=5.6 Hz, 4H), 3.78 (t, J=6.7 Hz, 2H), 3.56 (s, 2H) 3.09 (t, J=5.2 Hz, 4H), 2.32 (s, 3H), 1.99 (dp, J=19.1, 5.8 Hz, 4H), 1.72-1.42 (m, 4H), 0.35 (s, 4H). m/z (ESI): 566.1 (M+H)⁺.

TABLE 7 Example 7-1 was prepared following similar procedure as described in Example 7: LRMS: (ESI + Ex. # Chemical Structure Name ve ion) m/z 7-1

N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6- methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-2-((2- hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-4-(6- azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)pyrimidine-5- carboxamide 567.2

Example 8 5-(Cyclopropylsulfonyl)-N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-3-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)picolinamide

5-Bromo-N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-3-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)picolinamide (0.28 g, 0.54 mmol, Int. 7-2), copper(i) iodide (20 mg, 0.10 mmol, Acros Organics), sodium cyclopropanesulfinate (0.12 g, 0.84 mmol, Aurum Pharmatech), quinoline (60 mg, 0.46 mmol, Oakwood Products, Inc.) in 3 mL NMP were heated at 140° C. in microwave for 3 h. The mixture was adsorbed onto a plug of silica gel and purified by silica gel chromatography (0-50% of EtOAc in heptane) to give 5-(cyclopropylsulfonyl)-N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-3-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)picolinamide as an off-white solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CHLOROFORM-d) δ ppm 10.68-10.95 (m, 1H), 8.65-8.81 (m, 1H), 7.88-8.05 (m, 1H), 7.45-7.51 (m, 1H), 3.92-4.00 (m, 4H), 3.19-3.29 (m, 4H), 2.47-2.56 (m, 1H), 2.34-2.43 (m, 3H), 1.93-2.05 (m, 4H), 1.66-1.72 (m, 4H), 1.39-1.45 (m, 2H), 1.08-1.17 (m, 2H), 0.37-0.46 (m, 4H). m/z (ESI): 547.3 (M+H)⁺.

Example 9 N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-2-((2-hydroxyethyl)amino)-5-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)isonicotinamide

In a two neck flask, potassium phosphate tribasic (396 mg, 1.86 mmol, Sigma-Aldrich Corporation), 4,5-bis(diphenylphos-phino)-9,9-dimethyl-xanthene (54 mg, 0.093 mmol, Sigma-Aldrich Corporation), tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium (0) chloroform adduct (32 mg, 0.031 mmol, Strem Chemicals, Inc.), and 2-bromo-N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-5-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)isonicotinamide (324 mg, 0.62 mmol, Int. 7-1) were added. The flask was flushed with N₂ for 10 min, and dioxane (6 mL) and ethanolamine (202 mg, 3.31 mmol, Sigma-Aldrich Corporation) were added. The mixture was heated at 100° C. for 5 h. The reaction mixture was cooled to RT and was adsorbed onto a plug of silica gel and purified by silica gel chromatography (0-80% of EtOAc in heptane) to give N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-2-((2-hydroxyethyl)amino)-5-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)isonicotinamide as yellow solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CHLOROFORM-d) δ ppm 13.61-14.04 (m, 1H), 8.07-8.22 (m, 1H), 7.44-7.48 (m, 1H), 7.30-7.36 (m, 1H), 5.02-5.10 (m, 1H), 3.95-4.04 (m, 4H), 3.79-3.88 (m, 2H), 3.53-3.61 (m, 2H), 2.98-3.13 (m, 4H), 2.33-2.43 (m, 3H), 2.04-2.09 (m, 1H), 1.94-2.04 (m, 4H), 1.44-1.86 (m, 4H), 0.37-0.45 (m, 4H). m/z (ESI): 502.3 (M+H)⁺.

Example 10 N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-5-((2-hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-3-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)pyrazine-2-carboxamide

Step 1: To a solution of 5-amino-N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-3-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)pyrazine-2-carboxamide (95 mg, 0.207 mmol, Int. 9) in chloroform (1 mL) was added triethylamine (87 μL, 0.622 mmol) and methyl 2-(chlorosulfonyl)acetate (35.8 mg, 0.207 mmol, Combi-Blocks) in chloroform (1 mL) at 0° C. Then the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 h before it was quenched with water and extracted with dichloromethane. The organic layer was taken and washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated to provide methyl 2-(N-(5-((2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)carbamoyl)-6-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)pyrazin-2-yl)sulfamoyl)acetate (150 mg, 0.139 mmol) as pale yellow gummy solid which was taken to the next step without further purification. m/z (ESI): 595.2 (M+H)⁺.

Step 2: To a solution of methyl 2-(N-(5-((2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)carbamoyl)-6-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)pyrazin-2-yl)sulfamoyl)acetate (150 mg, 0.139 mmol) in ethanol (2 mL) was added NaBH₄ (10.50 mg, 0.277 mmol) at 0° C. Then the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 4 h before it was quenched with a saturated aqueous solution of ammonium chloride and was extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layers were washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated. The concentrate was purified by flash column chromatography using a gradient of 40% ethyl acetate in petroleum ether to give N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-5-((2-hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-3-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)pyrazine-2-carboxamide (22 mg, 0.039 mmol, 28% yield) as off-white solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ ppm 11.18 (br s, 1H), 10.19 (s, 1H), 7.55 (s, 1H), 7.29 (s, 1H), 4.95 (br s, 1H), 3.92-3.82 (m, 4H), 3.79 (t, J=6.0 Hz, 2H), 3.68 (t, J=6.5 Hz, 2H), 3.50-3.40 (m, 4H), 2.30 (s, 3H), 2.00-1.90 (m, 4H), 1.61-1.30 (m, 4H), 0.36 (s, 4H). m/z (ESI): 567.2 (M+H)⁺.

Example 11 2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-N-(4-((2-hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-2-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)phenyl)isonicotinamide

A mixture of 2-hydroxyethane-1-sulfonamide (17 mg, 0.135 mmol, Enamine), potassium phosphate (71 mg, 0.336 mmol, Aldrich), dimethylglycine (7 mg, 0.067 mmol, Oakwood), copper(I) iodide (7 mg, 0.034 mmol, Strem) in 3 mL DMF was degassed for 3 min. The tube was sealed and heated at 50° C. for 5 min then treated with N-(4-bromo-2-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)phenyl)-2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)isonicotinamide (34 mg, 0.067 mmol, Int. 7-5). The mixture was heated at 100° C. for 18 h then cooled to RT and partitioned between 5 mL of water and 50 mL of EtOAc. The organic layer was washed with 3 mL of brine and concentrated. The residue was purified on a reverse phase HPLC (10% to 90% of (0.1% TFA in acetonitrile) in (0.1% TFA in water) to give 2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-N-(4-((2-hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-2-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)phenyl)isonicotinamide bis(2,2,2-trifluoroacetate) (25 mg, 0.032 mmol, 48% yield) as a brown solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, METHANOL-d₄) δ 8.24 (d, J=6.01 Hz, 1H), 7.99 (d, J=8.71 Hz, 1H), 7.67 (s, 1H), 7.23-7.33 (m, 2H), 7.11 (dd, J=2.07, 8.71 Hz, 1H), 3.85-3.97 (m, 6H), 3.26 (m, 2H), 2.98-3.14 (m, 4H), 2.11-2.22 (m, 4H), 1.61 (s, 4H), 0.41 (s, 4H). ¹⁹F NMR (376 MHz, METHANOL-d₄) 6-77.58 (s, 6F), −98.87 (s, 2F). m/z (ESI): 550.2 (M+H)⁺.

Biological Examples

The following assays were used in testing the exemplary compounds of the invention. Data for those examples tested in accordance with the procedures described below are presented in Table A below.

KIF18A Enzyme Assay: Microtubule-stimulated ATPase activity assay is used to measure KIF18A enzyme activity after treatment with compound. Compounds were 2-fold serially diluted in DMSO (Sigma Inc) over 22-point concentration range. Recombinant human KIF18A (1-467 His-tagged) protein was expressed using a baculovirus system and purified by affinity chromatography by Amgen Inc. Concentrations of KIF18A protein, microtubules (MT), and ATP in the reaction were optimized for standardized homogenous enzyme assay using ADP-Glorm Kinase/ATPase Assay Kit (Promega Inc). The assay measures ADP formed from the ATPase reaction. Prepare reaction buffer [(15 mM Tris, pH 7.5 (Teknova Inc), 10 mM MgCl2 (IT Baker Inc), 0.01% Pluronic F-68 (Life Technologies Inc), 1 μM Taxol (Cytoskeleton Inc), and 30 μg/mL pig microtubules (Cytoskeleton Inc)]. Add compound and KIF18A protein (30 nM) to prepared reaction buffer and incubated for 15 minutes at room temperature, next add ATP (at K_(m), 75 μM) to the reaction mixture and incubated for an additional 15 minutes at room temperature. Mix 5 μl of ADP-Glorm Reagent and 2.5 μl of the reaction mixture and incubate for 40 minutes at room temperature. Add 10 μl ADP-Glorm Detection Reagent and incubate for 40 minutes at room temperature. Read luminescence using EnVision microplate reader with ultra-luminescence module (Perkin Elmer Inc). Concentration-response curve-fitting and IC_(n) determination was performed using Genedata Screener Software (Standard 15.0.1, Genedata Inc) with a four-parameter logistic regression fit model.

Table A provides data for compounds exemplified in the present application and priority document thereof, as representative compounds of the present invention, as follows: compound name and biological data. (IC₅₀ in μM, where available. Ex. # refers to Example No.)

TABLE A BIOLOGICAL DATA KIF18A ATPase Ex. # Compound Name IC₅₀ (μM) 1 N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-6- 0.031 ((2-hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-2-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl) nicotinamide 1-1 (R)-6-((2-Hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-N-(6-methyl-2- 0.402 (2-methylmorpholino)pyrimidin-4-yl)-2-(6-azaspiro[2.5] octan-6-yl)nicotinamide 2 (R)-N-(6-methyl-2-(2-methylmorpholino)pyrimidin-4-yl)-6- 0.916 (oxetan-3-ylamino)-2-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide 2-1 (R)-N-(6-Methyl-2-(2-methylmorpholino)pyrimidin-4-yl)- 0.355 6-((3-methyloxetan-3-yl)amino)-2-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan- 6-yl)nicotinamide 2-2 (R)-6-((3-(Hydroxymethypoxetan-3-yl)amino)-N-(6-methyl- 0.218 2-(2-methylmorpholino)pyrimidin-4-yl)-2-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan- 6-yl)nicotinamide 2-3 N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)- 0.453 6-((3-methyloxetan-3-yl)amino)-2-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan- 6-yl)nicotinamide 2-4 N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)- 0.173 6-((3-(hydroxymethyl)oxetan-3-yl)amino)-2-(6-azaspiro[2.5] octan-6-yl)nicotinamide 2-5 (R)-6-((1-Hydroxy-2-methylpropan-2-yl)amino)-N-(6-methyl- 0.230 2-(2-methylmorpholino)pyrimidin-4-yl)-2-(6-azaspiro[2.5] octan-6-yl)nicotinamide 2-6 N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)- 0.122 5-((1-hydroxy-2-methylpropan-2-yl)amino)-3-(6-azaspiro[2.5] octan-6-yl)picolinamide 2-7 N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)- 0.055 2-((1-hydroxy-2-methylpropan-2-yl)amino)-4-(6-azaspiro [2.5]octan-6-yl)pyrimidine-5-carboxamide 2-8 N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)- 0.088 5-((1-hydroxy-2-methylpropan-2-yl)amino)-3-(6-azaspiro[2.5] octan-6-yl)pyrazine-2-carboxamide 3 6-(Cyclopropylsulfonyl)-N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6- 0.048 methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-4-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide 4-1 4-(6-Azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)-6-(S-cyclopropylsulfonimidoyl)- 0.264 N-(2-(4,4-difluoro-1-piperidinyl)-6-methyl-4-pyrimidinyl)-3- pyridinecarboxamide 4-2 4-(6-Azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)-6-(R-cyclopropylsulfonimidoyl)- 0.206 N-(2-(4,4-difluoro-1-piperidinyl)-6-methyl-4-pyrimidinyl)-3- pyridinecarboxamide 5-1 3-(6-Azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)-5-(R-cyclopropylsulfonimidoyl)- 0.105 N-(2-(4,4-difluoro-1-piperidinyl)-6-methyl-4-pyrimidinyl)-2- pyridinecarboxamide 5-2 3-(6-Azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)-5-(S-cyclopropylsulfonimidoyl)- 0.071 N-(2-(4,4-difluoro-1-piperidinyl)-6-methyl-4-pyrimidinyl)-2- pyridinecarboxamide 6 N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)- 0.015 5-((2-hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-3-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6- yl)picolinamide 7 N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)- 0.013 6-((2-hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-4-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan- 6-yl)nicotinamide 7-1 N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)- 0.272 2-((2-hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-4-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan- 6-yl)pyrimidine-5-carboxamide 8 5-(Cyclopropylsulfonyl)-N-(2-(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6- 0.091 methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-3-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)picolinamide 9 N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-2-((2- 0.394 hydroxyethyl)amino)-5-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)isonicotinamide 10 N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)- 0.080 5-((2-hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-3-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl) pyrazine-2-carboxamide 11 2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-N-(4-((2- 0.027 hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-2-(6-azaspiro[2.5]octan- 6-yl)phenyl)isonicotinamide

The foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example, for purposes of clarity and understanding. Those skilled in the art understand that changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, it is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the following appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

All patents, patent applications and publications cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes to the same extent as if each individual patent, patent application or publication were so individually denoted. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A compound of formula I:

or any pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, wherein: X¹ is N or —CR⁶; X² is N or CR⁷; X³ is N or CR⁸; X⁴ is N or CR⁹; wherein 1, 2, or 3 of X¹, X², X³ and X⁴ are N; when all of X², X³ and X⁴ are not N; then L is —(C═O)—NR³—: when any of X², X³ and X⁴ is N; then L is —(C═O)—NR³— or —NR³—(C═O)—; R¹ is —CN, or a group —Z—R¹² wherein Z is —C₀₋₄alk-, —NR¹¹—, —NR¹¹SO₂—, —SO₂NR¹¹—, —NR¹¹—S(═O)(═NH), —S(═O)(═NH)—, —S—, —S(═O)—, —SO₂—, C₀₋₄alk-O—, —(C═O)—, —(C═O)NR¹¹—, —C═N(OH)—, or —NR¹¹(C═O); or the group —Z—R¹² is —N═S(═O)—(R¹²)₂, wherein the two R¹² pair can alternatively combine with the sulfur atom attached to each of them to form a saturated or partially-saturated 3-, 4-, 5-, or 6-membered monocyclic ring containing 0, 1, 2 or 3 N atoms and 0, 1, or 2 atoms selected from O and S; R² is a group —Y—R¹³, wherein Y is —C₀₋₄alk-, —N(C₀₋₁alk)-C₀₋₄alk-, —C(═O)NR^(a)R^(a)(C₁₋₄alk), —O—C₀₋₄alk-, S, S═O, S(═O)₂, —SO₂NR¹³, or —S(═O)(═NH)—; or the group —Y—R¹³ is —N═S(═O)—(R¹³)₂, wherein the two R¹³ pair can alternatively combine with the sulfur atom attached to each of them to form a saturated or partially-saturated 3-, 4-, 5-, or 6-membered monocyclic ring containing 0, 1, 2 or 3 N atoms and 0, 1, or 2 atoms selected from O and S; R³ is H, C₁₋₄alk, or C₁₋₄haloalk; R⁴ is H, halo, R^(4a) or R^(4b); R⁵ is H, halo, C₁₋₈alk, or C₁₋₄haloalk; R⁶ is H, halo, C₁₋₈alk, C₁₋₄haloalk, —O—C₁₋₈alk, or —O—R^(6a); wherein R^(6a) is a saturated or partially-saturated 3-, 4-, 5-, or 6-membered monocyclic ring containing 0, 1, 2 or 3 N atoms and 0, 1, or 2 atoms selected from O and S; R⁷ is H, halo, R^(7a) or R^(7b); R⁸ is H, halo, C₁₋₈alk, C₁₋₄haloalk, —OH, —O—R^(8a), or —O—R^(8b); R⁹ is H, halo, R^(9a) or R^(9b); R^(x) is selected from the group consisting of

Each of R^(10a), R^(10b), R^(10c), R^(10d), R^(10e), R^(10f), R^(10g), R^(10h), R^(10i), and R^(10j) is H, halo, R^(10k), or R^(10l); or alternatively, each of R^(10a) and R^(10b) pair, R^(10c) and R^(10d) pair, R^(10e) and R^(10f) pair, R^(10g) and R^(10h) pair, or R^(10i) and R^(10j) pair, independently, can combine with the carbon atom attached to each of them to form a saturated or partially-saturated 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-membered monocyclic ring spiro to the R^(x) ring; wherein said 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-membered monocyclic ring contains 0, 1, 2 or 3 N atoms and 0, 1, or 2 atoms selected from O and S, and further wherein said 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-membered monocyclic ring is substituted by 0, 1, 2 or 3 group(s) selected from F, Cl, Br, C₁₋₆alk, C₁₋₄haloalk, —OR^(a), —OC₁₋₄haloalk, CN, —NR^(a)R^(a), or oxo; R¹¹ is H or C₁₋₈alk; R¹² is H, R^(12a), or R^(12b); R¹³ is R^(13a) or R^(13b); R^(4a), R^(7a), R^(8a), R^(9a), R^(10k), R^(12a), and R^(13a) is independently, at each instance, selected from the group consisting of a saturated, partially-saturated or unsaturated 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, or 7-membered monocyclic or 4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, 8-, 9-, 10-, 11-, or 12-membered bicyclic ring containing 0, 1, 2 or 3 N atoms and 0, 1, or 2 atoms selected from O and S, which is substituted by 0, 1, 2 or 3 group(s) selected from F, Cl, Br, C₁₋₆alk, C₁₋₄haloalk, —OR^(a), —OC₁₋₄haloalk, CN, —C(═O)R^(b), —C(═O)OR^(a), —C(═O)NR^(a)R^(a), —C(═NR^(a))NR^(a)R^(a), —OC(═O)R^(b), —OC(═O)NR^(a)R^(a), —OC₂₋₆alkNR^(a)R^(a), —OC₂₋₆alkOR^(a), —SR^(a), —S(═O)R^(b), —S(═O)₂R^(b), —S(═O)₂NR^(a)R^(a), —NR^(a)R^(a), —N(R^(a))C(═O)R^(b), —N(R^(a))C(═O)OR^(b), —N(R^(a))C(═O)NR^(a)R^(a), —N(R^(a))C(═NR^(a))NR^(a)R^(a), —N(R^(a))S(═O)₂R^(b), —N(R^(a))S(═O)₂NR^(a)R^(a), —NR^(a)C₂₋₆alkNR^(a)R^(a), —NR^(a)C₂₋₆alkOR^(a), —C₁₋₆alkNR^(a)R^(a), —C₁₋₆alkOR^(a), —C₁₋₆alkN(R^(a))C(═O)R^(b), —C₁₋₆alkOC(═O)R^(b), —C₁₋₆alkC(═O)NR^(a)R^(a), —C₁₋₆alkC(═O)OR^(a), R¹⁴, and oxo; R^(4b), R^(7b), R^(8b), R^(9b), R^(10l), R^(12b), and R^(13b) is independently, at each instance, selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₆alk substituted by 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 group(s) selected from F, Cl, Br, —OR^(a), —OC₁₋₄haloalk, or CN; R¹⁴ is independently, at each instance, selected from the group consisting of a saturated, partially-saturated or unsaturated 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, or 7-membered monocyclic or 4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, 8-, 9-, 10-, 11-, or 12-membered bicyclic ring containing 0, 1, 2 or 3 N atoms and 0 or 1 atoms selected from O and S, which is substituted by 0, 1, 2 or 3 group(s) selected from F, Cl, Br, C₁₋₆alk, C₁₋₄haloalk, —OR^(a), —OC₁₋₄haloalk, CN, —C(═O)R^(b), —C(═O)OR^(a), —C(═O)NR^(a)R^(a), —C(═NR^(a))NR^(a)R^(a), —OC(═O)R^(b), —OC(═O)NR^(a)R^(a), —OC₂₋₆alkNR^(a)R^(a), —OC₂₋₆alkOR^(a), —SR^(a), —S(═O)R^(b), —S(═O)₂R^(b), —S(═O)₂NR^(a)R^(a), —NR^(a)R^(a), —N(R^(a))C(═O)R^(b), —N(R^(a))C(═O)OR^(b), —N(R^(a))C(═O)NR^(a)R^(a), —N(R^(a))C(═NR^(a))NR^(a)R^(a), —N(R^(a))S(═O)₂R^(b), —N(R^(a))S(═O)₂NR^(a)R^(a), —NR^(a)C₂₋₆alkNR^(a)R^(a), —NR^(a)C₂₋₆alkOR^(a), —C₁₋₆alkNR^(a)R^(a), —C₁₋₆alkOR^(a), —C₁₋₆alkN(R^(a))C(═O)R^(b), —C₁₋₆alkOC(═O)R^(b), —C₁₋₆alkC(═O)NR^(a)R^(a), —C₁₋₆alkC(═O)OR^(a), and oxo; R^(a) is independently, at each instance, H or R^(b); and R^(b) is independently, at each instance, C₁₋₆alk, phenyl, or benzyl, wherein the C₁₋₆alk is being substituted by 0, 1, 2 or 3 substituents selected from halo, —OH, —OC₁₋₄alk, —NH₂, —NHC₁₋₄alk, —OC(═O)C₁₋₄alk, or —N(C₁₋₄alk)C₁₋₄alk; and the phenyl or benzyl is being substituted by 0, 1, 2 or 3 substituents selected from halo, C₁₋₄alk, C₁₋₃haloalk, —OH, —OC₁₋₄alk, —NH₂, —NHC₁₋₄alk, —OC(═O)C₁₋₄alk, or —N(C₁₋₄alk)C₁₋₄alk.
 2. The compound according to claim 1 wherein L is —NR³—(C═O); and X¹ is N, X² is CR⁷, X³ is N; and X⁴ is CR⁹; having the formula (Ia):


3. The compound according to claim 1 wherein L is —(C═O)—NR³—; and X¹ is CR, X² is CR⁷, X³ is CR⁸; and X⁴ is CR⁹; having the formula (Ib):


4. The compound according to claim 1 wherein L is —(C═O)—NR³—; and X¹ is N, X² is CR⁷, X³ is CR⁸; and X⁴ is CR⁹; having the formula (Ic):


5. The compound according to claim 1 wherein L is —(C═O)—NR³—; and X¹ is N, X² is CR⁷, X³ is N; and X⁴ is CR⁹; having the formula (Id):


6. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R³ is H or methyl.
 7. The compound according to claim 1 wherein each of R^(10c), R^(10d), R^(10e), R^(10f), R^(10g), R^(10h), R^(10i), and R^(10j) is H, halo, C₁₋₆alk, or C₁₋₄haloalk; and each of R^(10a) and R^(10b) pair combine with the carbon atom attached to each of them form a saturated 3-, 4-, or 5-membered monocyclic ring spiro to the R^(x) ring; wherein said ring contains 0, 1, 2 or 3 N atoms and 0, 1, or 2 atoms selected from O and S.
 8. The compound according to claim 1 wherein each of R^(10c), R^(10d), R^(10e), R^(10f), R^(10g), R^(10h), R^(10i), and R^(10j) is H, methyl, or ethyl; and each of R^(10a) and R^(10b) pair combine with the carbon atom attached to each of them form a cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, or cyclopentyl ring spiro to the R^(x) ring.
 9. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R^(x) is selected from:


10. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R^(x) is


11. The compound according to claim 1 wherein Z is absent, —NH—, —NHSO₂—, —SO₂NH—, —S(═O)(═NH)—, —S—, —S(═O)—, —SO₂—, —(C═O)—, or —(C═O)NH—.
 12. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R¹² is selected from (a) H; (b) C₁₋₆alk substituted by 0, 1, 2 or 3 group(s) selected from F, Cl, Br, —OH, —OCH₃, or cyclopropyl; or (c) a saturated, partially-saturated or unsaturated 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, or 7-membered monocyclic ring containing 0, 1, 2 or 3 N atoms and 0 or 1 atoms selected from O and S, which is substituted by 0, 1, 2 or 3 group(s) selected from F, Cl, Br, C₁₋₆alk, C₁₋₄haloalk, —C₁₋₆alkOH, —OH, —OCH₃, —NH₂, or oxo.
 13. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R¹² is selected from cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, oxetanyl, azetidinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, or 1,3,4-oxathiazinanyl.
 14. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R¹ is —CN, or a group —Z—R¹², wherein Z is absent, —NH—, —NHSO₂—, —SO₂NH—, —S(═O)(═NH)—, —S—, —S(═O)—, —SO₂—, —(C═O)—, —(C═O)NH—, or —NH(C═O)—; and R¹² is selected from: (a) H; (b) cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, oxiranyl, oxetanyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, azetidinyl, imidazolyl, morpholinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperazinyl,

wherein each said ring is substituted by 0, 1, 2 or 3 group(s) selected from wherein each ring is substituted 0, 1, 2 or 3 OH, F, methyl, —CH₂OH, —C(═O)OCH₃, —C(═O)OC(CH₃)₃, NH₂, CN, and oxo; or (c) C₁₋₆alk substituted by 0, 1, 2 or 3 OH, F, —C(═O)OCH₃, —NH₂, —NH(CH₃), or —N(CH₃)₂.
 15. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R¹ is —CN, or a group —Z—R¹², wherein Z is absent, —NH—, —NHSO₂—, —SO₂NH—, —S(═O)(═NH)—, —S—, —S(═O)—, —SO₂—, —(C═O)—, or —(C═O)NH—; and R¹² is (a) H; (b) oxetanyl, cyclopropyl; or (c) C₁₋₆alk substituted by 0, 1, 2 or 3 OH group(s).
 16. The compound according to claim 1 wherein the group —Z—R¹² is —N═S(═O)—(R¹²)₂, wherein the two R¹² pair can alternatively combine with the sulfur atom attached to each of them to form a saturated or partially-saturated 3-, 4-, 5-, or 6-membered monocyclic ring containing 0, 1, 2 or 3 N atoms and 0, 1, or 2 atoms selected from O and S; which is selected from:


17. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R is a group —Z—R¹², wherein Z is —NHSO₂— or —SO₂NH—; and R¹² is oxetanyl, cyclopropyl, or R¹² is C₁₋₆alk substituted by 0, 1, 2 or 3 OH group(s).
 18. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R¹ is a group —Z—R¹², wherein Z is —NHSO₂— and R¹² is —CH₂—CH₂—OH.
 19. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R² is a group —Y—R¹³, wherein Y is absent, —NH—, —NH—(CH₂)₀₋₄—, or —O—(CH₂)₀₋₄; and R¹³ is a saturated, partially-saturated or unsaturated 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, or 7-membered monocyclic or 4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, 8-, 9-, 10-, 11-, or 12-membered bicyclic ring containing 0, 1, 2 or 3 N atoms and 0 or 1 atoms selected from O and S, which is substituted by 0, 1, 2 or 3 group(s) selected from F, Cl, Br, C₁₋₆alk, C₁₋₄haloalk, —OH, —OC₁₋₄haloalk, CN, R¹⁴, and oxo; or; R¹³ is C₁₋₆alk substituted by 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 group(s) selected from F, Cl, Br, —OH, —OC₁₋₄haloalk, or CN.
 20. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R² is a saturated 5- or 6-membered monocyclic ring wherein each said ring contains 0, 1, or 2 N atoms and 0 or 1 O atom, and wherein each said ring is substituted by 0, 1, 2 or 3 group(s) selected from F, Cl, Br, C₁₋₆alk, C₁₋₄haloalk, —OH, —OC₁₋₄haloalk, CN, R¹⁴, and oxo.
 21. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R² is (a) a group —Y—R¹³, wherein Y is absent; and R¹³ is morpholinyl, piperidinyl, azetidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, piperazinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl,

wherein each said ring is substituted by 0, 1, 2 or 3 group(s) selected from F, Cl, Br, methyl, CF₃, —OH, —OCHF₂, CN, and oxo; or (b) a group —Y—R¹³, wherein Y is NH, —O—, —O—(CH₂)—, —O—(CH₂)—(CH₂)—, or —O—(CH₂)—(CH₂)—(CH₂)—, and wherein R¹³ is

or R¹³ is C₁₋₆alk substituted by 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 group(s) selected from F, Cl, Br, methyl, CF₃, —OH, or CN.
 22. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R² is morpholinyl or piperidinyl substituted by 0, 1, 2 or 3 group(s) selected from F, Cl, Br, methyl, CF₃, —OH, —OCHF₂, CN, or oxo.
 23. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R² is morpholinyl substituted by 1, 2 or 3 methyl group(s).
 24. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R² is piperidinyl substituted by 1, 2 or 3 fluoro group(s).
 25. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R² is


26. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R⁴ is methyl.
 27. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R⁵ is H.
 28. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R⁶ is H or F.
 29. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R⁷ is H or F.
 30. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R⁸ is H.
 31. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R⁹ is H.
 32. The compound of claim 1, selected from the group consisting of: Ex. # Chemical Structure Name 1

N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6- methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-6-((2- hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-2-(6- azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide 1-1

(R)-6-((2-Hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-N- (6-methyl-2-(2- methylmorpholino)pyrimidin-4-yl)-2-(6- azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide 2-1

(R)-N-(6-methyl-2-(2- methylmorpholino)pyrimidin-4-yl)-6- ((3-methyloxetan-3-yl)amino)-2-(6- azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide 2-4

N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6- methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-6-((3- (hydroxymethyl)oxetan-3-yl)amino)-2- (6-azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide 2-6

N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6- methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-5-((1-hydroxy-2- methylpropan-2-yl)amino)-3-(6- azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)picolinamide 3

6-(Cyclopropylsulfonyl)-N-(2-(4,4- difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6- methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-4-(6- azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide 4-1

4-(6-Azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)-6-(S- cyclopropylsulfonimidoyl)-N-(2-(4,4- difluoro-1-piperidinyl)-6-methyl-4- pyrimidinyl)-3-pyridinecarboxamide 4-2

4-(6-Azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)-6-(R- cyclopropylsulfonimidoyl)-N-(2-(4,4- difluoro-1-piperidinyl)-6-methyl-4- pyrimidinyl)-3-pyridinecarboxamide 5-1

3-(6-Azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)-5-(R- cyclopropylsulfonimidoyl)-N-(2-(4,4- difluoro-1-piperidinyl)-6-methyl-4- pyrimidinyl)-2-pyridinecarboxamide 5-2

3-(6-Azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)-5-(S- cyclopropylsulfonimidoyl)-N-(2-(4,4- difluoro-1-piperidinyl)-6-methyl-4- pyrimidinyl)-2-pyridinecarboxamide 6

N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6- methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-5-((2- hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-3-(6- azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)picolinamide 7

N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6- methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-6-((2- hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-4-(6- azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)nicotinamide 7-1

N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6- methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-2-((2- hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-4-(6- azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)pyrimidine-5- carboxamide 8

5-(Cyclopropylsulfonyl)-N-(2-(4,4- difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6- methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-3-(6- azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)picolinamide 9

N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6- methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-2-((2- hydroxyethyl)amino)-5-(6- azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)isonicotinamide 10 

N-(2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-6- methylpyrimidin-4-yl)-5-((2- hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-3-(6- azaspiro[2.5]octan-6-yl)pyrazine-2- carboxamide 11 

2-(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-N-(4-((2- hydroxyethyl)sulfonamido)-2-(6- azaspiro[2.5]octan-6- yl)phenyl)isonicotinamide

or any pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof.
 33. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound according to claim 1 or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically-acceptable diluent or carrier.
 34. A method of treating a condition that may be treated with KIF18a inhibitors, the method comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of the compound in accordance to claim 1, or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 35. The method of claim 34 wherein said condition is cancer selected from the group consisting of (a) a solid or hematologically derived tumor selected from cancer of the cancer of the bladder, endometrial, lung squamous cell, breast, colon, kidney, liver, lung, small cell lung cancer, esophagus, gall-bladder, brain, head and neck, ovary, pancreas, stomach, cervix, thyroid, prostate and skin, (b) a hematopoietic tumor of lymphoid lineage selected from leukemia, acute lymphocitic leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, B-cell lymphoma, T-cell-lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, hairy cell lymphoma and Burkett's lymphoma, (c) a hematopoietic tumor of myeloid lineage selected from acute and chronic myelogenous leukemias, myelodysplastic syndrome and promyelocytic leukemia (d) a tumor of mesenchymal origin selected from fibrosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma, (e) a tumor of the central and peripheral nervous system selected from astrocytoma, neuroblastoma, glioma and schwannoma, or (f) a melanoma, seminoma, teratocarcinoma, osteosarcoma, xenoderoma pigmentosum, keratoctanthoma, thyroid follicular cancer or Kaposi's sarcoma.
 36. A method of reducing the size of a solid tumor in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of the compound in accordance to claim 1, or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 37. A method of treating a cell proliferation disorder in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of the compound in accordance to claim 1, or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 38. A method of inhibiting KIF18A in a cell, comprising contacting the cell with a compound, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, in accordance to claim 1, or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 